Paraguay vs Australia - prediction, team news, lineups

In the last gameweek of Group D, Paraguay and Australia volition conflict for automatic progression to the knockouts of the 2026 World Cup on Friday at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium.

Third-placed Paraguay and second-placed Australia person 3 points apiece aft their archetypal 2 radical games, but they are some guaranteed to decorativeness successful the apical 3 aft Turkey were eliminated, though neither tin decorativeness first.

Match preview

While they whitethorn person suffered a bruising 4-1 nonaccomplishment to the USA successful gameweek one, Paraguay managed to bushed Turkey 1-0 connected June 20.

Their triumph was made adjacent much awesome considering Miguel Almiron was sent disconnected conscionable earlier the half-time interval, though they were already starring acknowledgment to Matias Galarza's second-minute strike.

Manager Gustavo Alfaro indispensable usher his broadside to 3 points connected Friday arsenic the archetypal tiebreaker erstwhile teams are level is their head-to-head grounds and the 2nd is extremity difference, truthful a stalemate for Los Guaranies would effect successful Australia advancing due to the fact that their extremity quality of zero is 2 amended than their opponents.

Any triumph for Paraguay could beryllium tense fixed 10 of their past 12 triumphs were by a one-goal margin, but they person emerged arsenic winners successful 5 of their 7 astir caller fixtures.

The federation that manages to unafraid 2nd spot is presently slated to instrumentality connected the runners-up of Group G, which could beryllium immoderate of Egypt, Iran, Belgium oregon New Zealand.

Paraguay person ne'er won 2 radical games astatine a azygous variation of the competition, though they person avoided decision successful the last radical matches successful each of their past six World Cups.

Australia's 2nd outing astatine the World Cup was not arsenic enjoyable arsenic their resilient 2-0 occurrence implicit Turkey connected June 14, arsenic they suffered a 2-0 nonaccomplishment against the US connected June 19.

Socceroos cannot decorativeness archetypal due to the fact that that decision means the USA boast a amended head-to-head record, though adjacent a nonaccomplishment connected Friday could inactive unafraid their spot successful the circular of 32.

Eight third-placed teams volition beryllium entered into the knockouts, but relying connected different nations to prime up less points would beryllium risky.

Australia's clash with Paraguay volition beryllium their sixth ever meeting, and they volition anticipation to support their unbeaten grounds against their opponents, who they defeated for the 2nd clip erstwhile they won 1-0 successful October 2010.

Boss Tony Popovic has overseen 3 wins, 1 gully and 2 losses successful his past six games successful charge, with his players scoring 9 goals and conceding 5 times successful that stretch.

One oregon 3 points connected Friday would publication Australia's spot successful the knockout rounds for a 2nd consecutive tournament, and it would besides beryllium the 3rd World Cup successful six that they would person managed to beforehand retired of their group.

Whether Popovic tin usher his squad to a affirmative effect against their 41st-ranked opponents remains to beryllium seen, but the 27th-ranked Socceroos volition beryllium seen arsenic favourites, arsenic shown successful our World Cup 2026 betting guide.

Paraguay World Cup form:

Paraguay signifier (all competitions):

Australia World Cup form:

Australia signifier (all competitions):

Team News

With Almiron suspended, Paraguay volition beryllium missing their squad's existent apical goalscorer (10), and his lack connected the close could beryllium decisive.

Gustavo Velazquez whitethorn person to beryllium utilized successful a somewhat much precocious relation connected Friday, though it remains to beryllium seen whether helium volition beryllium capable to supply overmuch of an attacking impact.

There were besides fears astir the fittingness of midfielder Diego Gomez, who was taken disconnected against Turkey, but helium has reportedly flooded his discomfort successful clip for his side's last radical game.

Australian winger Mathew Leckie suffered a musculus wounded against the US, and portion helium has not been ruled retired of his nation's 3rd match, it whitethorn beryllium safer for Cristian Volpato to travel into the lineup.

Despite struggling past clip out, Aiden O'Neill and Paul Okon-Engstler tin beryllium expected to commencement successful midfield for a 3rd clip astatine this World Cup.

It would besides beryllium astonishing if centre-backs Alessandro Circati, Harry Souttar and Cameron Burgess were rotated considering the trio featured against Turkey and the US.

Paraguay imaginable starting lineup:

Gill; Caceres, G Gomez, Alderete, Alonso; Velazquez, Cubas, D Gomez, Galarza; Pitta, Enciso

Australia imaginable starting lineup:

Beach; Circati, Souttar, Burgess; Italiano, O'Neill, Okon-Engstler, Bos; Volpato, Toure, Irankunda

We say: Paraguay 0-1 Australia

Paraguay's quality to endanger successful the last 3rd has been importantly reduced, and it is hard to spot them breaking the Socceroos' defence.

Australia whitethorn not person been astatine their champion successful gameweek two, but they should person capable prime successful onslaught to gain a constrictive triumph connected Friday.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.