The 2026 World Cup kicked off on Friday across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Australia are back for a sixth straight tournament and will compete in Group D.
Let’s have a look at the teams that make up the group.
Australia
Australia is ranked 27th in the world. Coach Tony Popovic took charge in September 2024 and has set a quarter-final as his target.
Australia’s best result is reaching the round of 16, which was achieved in 2006 and again in 2022.
The Socceroos’ 2022 run ended with a 2-1 loss to eventual champions Argentina. Popovic’s 26-player squad includes 17 players set for their first World Cup.
Among them are Cristian Volpato and Tete Yengi, who both debuted for Australia in last week's 1-1 draw with Switzerland. Yengi marked the occasion with a goal.
Mathew Leckie, playing in his fourth World Cup, is the only man in this squad who scored a goal in Qatar. Goalkeeper Mat Ryan will captain the side, also in his fourth World Cup.
Other players who will bring much-needed experience to the side include midfielder Jackson Irvine and defender Harry Souttar.
Türkiye
Australia will kick off their World Cup campaign against Türkiye, ranked 22nd in the world.
The teams have only played each other twice, in a 2004 friendly series where Türkiye won both matches.
Türkiye missed the 2022 World Cup and is back at the tournament for the first time since 2002.
Third place in 2002 remains the country’s best-ever finish at a men’s World Cup.
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The U.S.
Tournament co-hosts the U.S. are the group's top-ranked side at 17th in the world. Australia have faced them four times for one win, one draw and two losses.
The most recent meeting came in October, when the U.S. fought back to win 2-1.
In 2022, the U.S. reached the round of 16, where they were beaten 3-1 by the Netherlands.
Their best finish was third place at the first World Cup in 1930.
The U.S. are coached by former Argentine international Mauricio Pochettino, and their star player is AC Milan forward Christian Pulisic.
This is expected to be the Socceroos’ toughest group-stage fixture and the earliest start for Australian viewers, kicking off at 5am (AEST) at Lumen Field in Seattle on Saturday 20 June.
Paraguay
Australia have never lost to Paraguay across five meetings, with two wins and three draws. Their coach is part of that history. Popovic scored against Paraguay in 2006 in his final match for Australia, a 1-1 draw.
At their most recent meeting in Sydney in 2010, Australia won 1-0.
Ranked 41st in the world, Paraguay also missed 2022 and is back for the first time since 2010.
The quarter-finals that year remain their best run.
Paraguay’s most familiar name is Miguel Almirón, who played for the English Premier League’s Newcastle United and is now at Atlanta United.
Australia faces Paraguay at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara at 12pm (AEST) on Friday, 26 June.
