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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Sport
Joey Lynch

Australia draw USA, Paraguay and a European playoff winner for 2026 World Cup

Australia Tony Popovic World Cup Paraguay United States Christian Pulisic Fifa Socceroos
Basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal (second left) picked out Australia for Group D of the 2026 World Cup.
Basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal (second left) picked out Australia for Group D of the 2026 World Cup. Photograph: Scott Taetsch/FIFA/Getty Images

A showdown with host nation the USA awaits Australia at the 2026 World Cup but Tony Popovic’s side will need to wait until March to learn the identity of the European opponent they will play in their opening fixture.

After a long and at times bizarre ceremony at the Kennedy Centre in Washington DC, the Socceroos were drawn in Group D, joining the co-hosts, Paraguay, and the winner of a European playoff featuring Turkey, Romania, Slovakia and Kosovo.

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