2026 World Cup Group D Guide: Teams, schedule, key player

This summer's World Cup will be the biggest ever tournament with 48 teams heading to the USA, Canada and Mexico for what's set to be a memorable month of action. 

The Americans return as hosts 32 years after a transformative 1994 tournament, and they look to win a group consisting of opposition from South America, Asia and Europe.

DAZN News takes a look at Group D, examining the teams, players and big games across the opening stage of World Cup 2026. 

World Cup Group Guides 

• Group A 
• Group B
• Group C
• Group D
• Group E
• Group F
• Group G
• Group H
• Group I
• Group J
• Group K
• Group L 

DAZN/FIFA

Group D - at a glance 

• United States
• Paraguay
• Australia
• Turkiye

Fixtures

Predicted qualifiers

The hosts will be confident that they can get out of this group but it's a very open field with the young, exciting Turks also ones to watch and Paraguay having the climate advantage, too.

The Teams

United States

World Ranking: 15
Best World Cup result: Third place, 1930

The Americans are perennial qualifiers for this tournament, having playing in six of the last seven World Cup. Of course, as co-hosts they did not need to go through qualification this time around, but the USMNT made good use of the time as they reached the semi-finals of the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup and were runners-up in the 2025 edition.

They also won the 2023 and 2024 CONCACAF Nations Leagues before finishing fourth in 2025.

Heading into this summer's World Cup, the U.S. boast a squad that may be the most talented in their history. The core of the current squad is one that has been together for years, with the likes of Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams, Timothy Weah, Antonee Robinson, Giovanni Reyna and Brenden Aaronson having all played at Qatar 2022.

Key man - Christian Pulisic

The AC Milan man heads into his second World Cup as the key to the USMNT's attack. Pulisic has been the key man for the United States for years and continues to be the most important player to don the red, white and blue.

Manager - Mauricio Pochettino

Perhaps the highest-profile manager in the Americans' history, the former PSG, Chelsea and Tottenham boss is tasked with guiding the United States through a long run on home soil.

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Paraguay 

World Ranking: 40
Best World Cup: Quarter-finals, 2010

Sixteen years after their best-ever finish, Paraguay are back at the World Cup.

The South American side made a run all the way into the final eight at South Africa 2010 and followed that up by failing to qualify for three straight World Cups, pushing the side into the footballing wilderness.

They did manage a runners-up medal at Copa America 2011 and a fourth-place finish in the same tournament four years later, but that generation faded away and the one that followed did not live up to their predecessors.

With the current squad scattered throughout the Americas, bolstered by a handful of European-based players, they key for Paraguay is to find a sense of conformity ahead of their first World Cup in nearly a generation.

Key man - Diego Gómez

The former Inter Miami midfielder has found a home in the Premier League with Brighton & Hove Albion, and his ability to play several positions has made him a key contributor for the Seagulls. Paraguay will need him to bring that level of play this summer.

Manager - Gustavo Alfaro 

An experienced manager with stops throughout Latin America and Asia, Alfaro is on his third national team after coaching stints with Ecuador and Costa Rica.

Koji Watanabe/Getty Images

Australia

World Ranking: 27
Best World Cup: Round of 16, 2006, 2022

The Aussies are back and looking to improve upon their last-16 finish in 2022.

With a squad built from disparate leagues all over the globe, the Socceroos had a troublesome end to 2025 but look to replicate their form from qualifying when they finished second in their group.

Key man - Mathew Ryan

The goalkeeper and captain of the Socceroos, Ryan's experience dwarfs that of his teammates as he boasts 20 more international caps than the next highest player in the Australia squad. Now backstopping La Liga side Levante, Ryan will be leaned upon to provide a steady, calming hand for the Aussies.

Manager - Tony Popovic

A former Socceroo himself, Popovic knows what it means to pull on the Australia shirt and will aim to use his experience as a club manager in the A-League as well as in Greece and Turkiye to guide his nation to another long World Cup run.

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Turkey 

World Ranking: 25
Best World Cup: Third place, 2002 

It's a return to the World Cup stage for Turkey for the first time since 2002, and a whole new generation of players and fans. 

The Turks overcame a play-off double-header by beating Romania and Kosovo, both by a single goal to show what a solid unit the 2026 side are. 

They boast a squad that contains the experience of skipper Hakan Çalhanoğlu and Zeki Celik as well as a slew of some of the most exciting young players in European football. 

If they can gather some momentum through the group stage, Turkey are very much in 'dark horse' territory. 

Key man - Arda Güler 

Still only 21, the forward has established himself as a key member in Real Madrid's team and has the capacity to create something out of nothing. 

Manager  - Vincenzo Montella

The one-time Fulham loanee has coached across Europe, including stints at Milan and Sevilla, but has been the Turkey boss since 2023. 

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