Group · Matchday 3Upcoming
Paraguay vs Australia — World Cup 2026 Group · Matchday 3
Match preview / What to expect
Updated Jun 6, 2026Paraguay and Australia meet in a Group D finale that could decide who joins the knockout picture. Gustavo Alfaro's Paraguay are well-drilled and resilient, with Miguel Almirón providing the spark and Antonio Sanabria leading the line.
Tony Popović's Socceroos are built on organisation and grit, with Harry Souttar dominant in the air and Jackson Irvine driving the midfield.
This has the feel of a tight, cagey contest where set-pieces and game management could prove decisive.
Key storylines
- 01Almirón's creativity vs Australia's disciplined block
- 02Set-pieces likely pivotal between two physical sides
- 03Both nations eyeing a knockout berth in a tight group
Prediction
Kickoff editorial call
Paraguay 1-1 Australia
Projected lineups
Projected XI — not confirmed
Paraguay
Formation 4-4-2- 1R. Fernandez
- 2J. Alonso
- 3G. Gómez
- 4O. Alderete
- 5J. Cáceres
- 6M. Almirón
- 7A. Cubas
- 8D. Bobadilla
- 9R. Sosa
- 10A. Sanabria
- 11J. Enciso
Australia
Formation 4-2-3-1- 1M. Ryan
- 2L. Herrington
- 3H. Souttar
- 4C. Burgess
- 5A. Behich
- 6J. Irvine
- 7A. O Neill
- 8M. Leckie
- 9A. Hrustic
- 10N. Irankunda
- 11M. Touré
Team news
Paraguay
- Almirón the key man for Alfaro's Paraguay
- Sanabria leads the line
Australia
- Souttar a major aerial threat at both ends
- Irvine the midfield engine for the Socceroos
Sources
Preview is editorial. Projected lineups are not confirmed team sheets.
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Head-to-head
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