The Socceroos are gearing up for an exhilarating campaign in next year’s FIFA World Cup after discovering their group-stage opponents in the North American finals. Drawn into Group D, Australia will face hosts USA, Paraguay, and one of Turkey, Romania, Slovakia, or Kosovo, following a draw conducted at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC. The team has notably avoided several of football’s heavyweight nations, giving them a realistic chance to make a strong showing in the tournament.
Tony Popovic’s squad will square off against the United States, currently ranked 14th in the world and coached by Mauricio Pochettino, marking the first time Australia will face a host nation in the World Cup since the 1974 tournament in Germany. This matchup is expected to generate significant excitement among both Australian and American fans, promising a vibrant and highly competitive atmosphere on the pitch.
By sidestepping some of the tournament’s most formidable teams—including reigning world champions Argentina, European champions Spain, and other top-four teams France and England—the Socceroos find themselves in what many believe is a relatively favorable group. “Little bit excited about getting the US. I predicted we would get one of the host nations - just a theory that I had,” Popovic told reporters in Washington, reflecting the team’s anticipation and optimism.
Popovic highlighted the significance of the match against the United States, emphasizing the support of Australian fans: “So we know what the anticipation will be: the host nation, the crowd behind them. We know a lot of Aussies will come and support, I'm sure they're all looking at where they can stay and how they can get their tickets now, so we know the country will be behind us. That will be a fantastic game. But every game's important and our first game will be against the European play-off winner, so we need to wait a little while to find out who that will be. But an exciting group for us.”
The final opponent in Group D will remain unknown until the completion of the European play-offs in late March. In the UEFA play-off path C, world No.25 Turkey will clash with No.47 Romania, while No.45 Slovakia will face No.80 Kosovo. The winners of these matches will meet in a play-off final to determine who will join the Socceroos in their World Cup group. This means Australia’s first match could feature a new European adversary they have yet to face on the world stage.
The tournament schedule for the Socceroos will primarily take place along North America’s west coast, as all group-stage fixtures in the United States have been allocated to western venues. The USA will open the tournament against Paraguay in Los Angeles on Friday, June 12 (local time), while Australia will commence its World Cup journey a day later against the yet-to-be-determined European play-off winner in Vancouver’s BC Place. The Socceroos will then face the United States at Seattle’s Lumen Field on June 19, before concluding their group campaign against Paraguay at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on June 25.
The draw ceremony in Washington DC was notable not only for the Socceroos’ favorable placement but also for the presence of US President Donald Trump, who became the first recipient of FIFA’s newly created 'Peace Prize' during the event. The occasion added a ceremonial gravitas to the proceedings, highlighting the global significance of the tournament and the excitement surrounding the 2026 finals, which will be the largest World Cup in history with 48 teams competing across 104 games.
Australia’s previous encounters with their group opponents paint an interesting picture. The Socceroos last faced the United States in October, suffering a 2-1 defeat in Colorado—their first loss under Popovic’s management. Overall, Australia and the USA have met four times, with one victory, one draw, and two losses for the Socceroos. Against Paraguay, Australia remains unbeaten in five meetings, registering two wins and three draws, although their last clash was a friendly in 2010 that ended 1-0 in Australia’s favor. Interestingly, Popovic scored in his final appearance as a Socceroo in 2006 during a 1-1 draw against Paraguay.
Australia has never played Kosovo, while matches against Turkey have resulted in two losses. Their encounters with Romania and Slovakia have produced one defeat and one draw, respectively. These historical results provide context for the challenges that lie ahead, but the relatively new and less-experienced opposition may give the Socceroos an edge as they aim to reach the knockout stages for the second consecutive World Cup.
The World Cup’s expanded format will see the top two teams from each of the 12 groups advance to the knockout rounds, along with the eight best third-placed teams. This structure allows Australia multiple pathways to progress, particularly in a group devoid of former champions. By maintaining focus and leveraging their recent experience in high-pressure international fixtures, the Socceroos have a legitimate chance to make a deep run in the tournament.
Socceroos’ Group for the World Cup Finals:
Group D: United States, Paraguay, Australia, UEFA Playoff C winner (Turkey, Romania, Slovakia, or Kosovo)
Socceroos’ Expected Fixtures (AEST):
June 14: Australia v UEFA Playoff C winner at BC Place, Vancouver
June 20: Australia v United States at Lumen Field, Seattle
June 26: Australia v Paraguay at Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara
With this favorable draw and a mix of familiar and new opponents, the Socceroos are set for an exhilarating World Cup campaign. Tony Popovic’s squad enters the tournament with confidence, fan support, and a clear focus on advancing beyond the group stage, aiming to cement Australia’s reputation as a competitive force on football’s grandest stage.
