Australia secured runner-up spot in Group D with a 0-0 draw against Paraguay, while the South Americans remain in strong contention for a third-place wildcard spot.
Australia and Paraguay played out a cagey 0-0 draw at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium on Thursday, with the result securing the Socceroos’ passage to the Round of 32 as the runner-up of Group D while leaving Paraguay in an excellent position to advance as one of the best third-placed teams.
The match featured few clear-cut chances. Jackson Irvine forced a strong near-post save from Paraguayan goalkeeper Orlando Gill in the fourth minute. On the stroke of halftime, Jordan Bos combined with Cristian Volpato, whose curling shot was parried away by Gill to keep it scoreless.
📢 GET A DETAILED ARTICLES + JOBS
Join ASJ's WhatsApp Channel and never miss a post or opportunity.
Paraguay pushed forward early in the second half, with substitute Maurício registering a shot that forced a solid handle from Australian goalkeeper Patrick Beach. In stoppage time, Ajdin Hrustić cut a pass back to Tete Yengi, but his close-range strike lacked the power to beat Gill, sealing the scoreless draw.
Australia finished with 12 shots, two on target, while Paraguay managed eight shots, one on target. Australian possession stood at 56 percent compared to Paraguay’s 44 percent. Combining for a meager 0.83 expected goals, this was the first match of the tournament to drop below a combined 1.0 xG rating.
Lucas Herrington, at 18 years and 294 days, became the youngest player to ever start a World Cup match for Australia.
According to a report by Accra Street Journal, finishing second in Group D behind the United States, Australia has locked in a Round of 32 matchup in Dallas, Texas, on July 3 against the runner-up of Group G.
Before Kickoff
Venue and Kickoff Time
-
- Stadium: Levi’s San Francisco Bay Area Stadium (Santa Clara, California)
- Kickoff: 02:00 GMT
⚽ Pre-Match Analysis
📋 Predicted Lineups
-
- Paraguay Starting XI: Coronel; Cáceres, Gómez, Alderete, Espinoza; Cubas, Villasanti; Almirón, Enciso, Sosa; Bareiro.
- Australia Starting XI: Ryan; Atkinson, Souttar, Rowles, Behich; Metcalfe, Irvine, O’Neill; Boyle, Duke, Goodwin.
📊 Match Facts and Head-to-Head (H2H)
-
- H2H Record: Past encounters have consisted solely of tightly contested international friendly matches.
- Key Fact: Paraguay revived their tournament campaign by grinding out a 1-0 win over Turkey on matchday two.
Last Updated on June 27, 2026 by Samuel Kwame Boadu
🏟️ Discover More Sports Stories
Looking for more in-depth sports news, interviews, and features? Visit Accra Sports News — your go-to for exclusive sports content in Ghana and beyond.
Disclaimer: Some content on Accra Street Journal may be aggregated, summarized, or edited from third-party sources for informational purposes. Images and media are used under fair use or royalty-free licenses. Accra Street Journal is a subsidiary of SamBoad Publishing Hub under SamBoad Business Group Ltd, registered in Ghana since 2014.
For concerns or inquiries, please visit our Privacy Policy or Contact Page.
Samuel Kwame Boadu is a Ghanaian media entrepreneur and storyteller with a passion for amplifying urban voices and uncovering everyday truths. He is the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Accra Street Journal, a dynamic digital platform dedicated to capturing the pulse of Ghana’s capital—its people, culture, challenges, business, sports and innovations.
