Group D at the 2026 World Cup could prove to be one of the more unpredictable sections of the tournament, with the United States, Paraguay, Australia and Turkey all believing they have a realistic shot at reaching the knockout rounds.
There is pressure on the hosts to deliver in front of home support, but with Paraguay continuing to improve, Turkey carrying plenty of attacking quality and Australia thriving in tournament football, this group may not be as straightforward as it first appears.
Below, MrFixitsTips takes a look at Group D in full, including fixtures, odds and predictions.
Which teams are in Group C of the 2026 World Cup?
United States
There is always enormous expectation surrounding the United States at home tournaments, and with Mauricio Pochettino now in charge, belief around the national team has risen significantly over the past year.
The Americans qualified comfortably and have assembled arguably their most technically gifted squad in modern history. Christian Pulisic continues to lead from the front, while players such as Weston McKennie, Gio Reyna and Folarin Balogun provide genuine quality in attacking areas.
However, inconsistency remains a concern. The United States have shown on several occasions that they can dominate strong opponents one week and struggle badly against disciplined defensive sides the next.
Playing on home soil should still give them an edge in Group D, but they may not have things entirely their own way.
Paraguay
Paraguay are quietly becoming one of the more awkward teams to face in international football, and they could easily emerge as the surprise package in this group.
Under Daniel Garnero, Paraguay have rediscovered the defensive resilience that made them so difficult to beat during previous successful eras, while younger attacking players have started to add more creativity in the final third.
Their qualifying campaign included several eye-catching performances against South America's elite, and there is growing confidence that this generation is capable of reaching the knockout stages.
If Paraguay can avoid defeat against the United States in Gameweek 2, then qualification could be firmly within their grasp heading into the final round of fixtures.
Australia
Australia have made a habit of outperforming expectations at major tournaments, and very few teams enjoy facing them in high-pressure group-stage matches.
Tony Popovic's side are extremely well organised defensively and possess the physicality and discipline required to frustrate more technically gifted opponents. While they may lack star power compared to the other teams in Group D, they compensate with structure and work rate.
The Socceroos also carry valuable tournament experience, having reached the knockout rounds in Qatar four years ago before narrowly losing to eventual champions Argentina.
Australia may once again prove difficult to break down, and they are more than capable of taking points from at least one of the group favourites.
Turkey
Turkey arrive at the World Cup with plenty of excitement surrounding their squad, as this current generation is regarded as one of the nation's strongest in recent memory.
Vincenzo Montella has encouraged a far more progressive style of football since taking charge, and with players such as Arda Guler, Kenan Yildiz and Hakan Calhanoglu available, Turkey possess enough attacking quality to trouble anyone in Group D.
Their issue, however, has often been consistency. Turkey can look brilliant going forward for long stretches before suddenly becoming vulnerable defensively, something stronger sides are quick to exploit.
Even so, the talent within the squad should be enough to see them challenge strongly for top spot, and they could ultimately prove more dangerous than the bookmakers expect.
2026 World Cup Group D group winners and qualification predictions
Group D winner odds
- United States – 13/10
- Turkey – 7/4
- Paraguay – 7/2
- Australia – 9/1
2026 World Cup Group D qualification odds
- United States – 1/10
- Turkey – 2/9
- Paraguay – 2/5
- Australia – 1/1
The bookmakers expect the United States and Turkey to reach the knockout rounds, but Paraguay are very much in the mix and could easily disrupt the market expectations. Australia, meanwhile, have once again been cast as outsiders, something they have become used to at major tournaments.
2026 World Cup Group D fixtures and odds
Matchday 1
United States vs Paraguay
- United States: 1/1
- Draw: 5/2
- Paraguay: 27/10
Australia vs Turkey
- Australia: 17/5
- Draw: 5/2
- Turkey: 5/6
Matchday 2
United States vs Australia
- United States: TBC
- Draw: TBC
- Australia: TBC
Turkey vs Paraguay
- Turkey: TBC
- Draw: TBC
- Paraguay: TBC
Matchday 3
Turkey vs United States
- Turkey: TBC
- Draw: TBC
- United States: TBC
Paraguay vs Australia
- Paraguay: TBC
- Draw: TBC
- Australia: TBC
Note: All above odds were correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
The United States are favourites to top Group D at 13/10, although there are still lingering doubts over whether Mauricio Pochettino's side can consistently perform under pressure against well-organised opposition.
Turkey are viewed as their biggest challengers, while Paraguay are being slightly overlooked despite enjoying an impressive rise over the past two years.
If you are planning to follow the tournament from a betting perspective, then be sure to also check out our guide to the best World Cup betting apps ahead of kickoff.
Predicted finishing order
- United States
- Turkey
- Paraguay
- Australia
Group D best bets
Group D looks far tighter than several of the other World Cup groups, which could create value in the match-by-match markets throughout the tournament.
Paraguay to qualify at 7/2 could appeal at odds-against prices, while 1st USA, 2nd Paraguay odds at 9/2 is also good value.
Cole is a passionate sports writer with a love for storytelling. He covers global sporting events with a focus on insight, accuracy, and engaging analysis. Known for his clear writing style and balanced opinions, Cole brings every headline to life for readers.
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