Australia pass through Paraguay’s gate.. Turkey bid farewell to the World Cup by downing the United States

26 June 2026, 2:34 AM

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كأس العالم 2026: فوزر تركي متأخر وأستراليا إلى دور الـ32 - World Cup 2026: Late Turkish win and Australia through to Round of 32 — BY-AI-PN

World Cup 2026 | Socceroos snatch Round of 32 ticket after tactical battle against Paraguay.. Arda Güler leads late Turkish victory over USA without changing the group’s fate

The final round of Group D was not just about improving positions, but painted a contrasting picture until the final whistle. Australia played on their nerves and snatched qualification to the Round of 32 with a precious goalless draw against Paraguay, while Turkey ended their 2026 World Cup campaign in the best possible way, stunning the United States 3-2 with a 98th-minute winner, on a night that didn’t change the qualifiers from the previous round, but reshaped the group’s image.

Australia.. qualification with a taste of patience

The “Socceroos” entered the match knowing their fate was in their own hands, choosing control over risk, imposing their rhythm for most of the game against a Paraguay side that closed spaces and defended fiercely for their hopes.

Jordan Bos, Aidan O’Neill, and Christian Volpato led most of Australia’s attempts, while goalkeeper Orlando Gill stood as a wall against Jackson Irvine’s shots and those of his teammates.

Despite the scarcity of clear chances, Australia remained the more determined side, nearly snatching the game in the final minutes when Jordan Bos dribbled past defenders and fired a shot that went just wide of the post.

The match ended goalless, but it gave Australia what they had been seeking from the start: a ticket to the Round of 32, while Paraguay’s fate remained pending the results of other groups to see if their defensive resilience would be enough to continue their journey.

ملخص مباراة باراغواي وأستراليا | دور المجموعات – كأس العالم FIFA 2026™#كأس_العالم2026 | #مونديال2026 | #كأس_العالم #beINWC26 | #FIFAWorldCup2026 | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/X75Nub8ZPe

— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) June 26, 2026

Turkey.. a late victory that doesn’t erase the disappointment of elimination

In Los Angeles, Turkey played for pride, while the United States entered the match having already secured top spot and made nine changes to their lineup.

The American start was perfect, with Auston Trusty opening the scoring after just three minutes, but Turkey responded quickly through Arda Güler, who continued writing his name in Turkish football history, becoming the youngest player to score for his country in the World Cup.

Güler didn’t stop there, leading his team’s revival before Barış Yılmaz gave Turkey the lead just before half-time.

The hosts fought back through Sebastian Berhalter, who both assisted and scored, reigniting the match amid American attempts to seal it, especially after Christian Pulisic entered the fray.

But the final word came from Turkey, when Kenan Aihan rose in the eighth minute of stoppage time to score the winner, giving his country a moral victory over the group leaders.

ملخص مباراة تركيا وأمريكا | دور المجموعات – كأس العالم FIFA 2026™#كأس_العالم2026 | #مونديال2026 | #كأس_العالم #beINWC26 | #FIFAWorldCup2026 | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/rAfHXE0ySu
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) June 26, 2026

Results that didn’t change the standings

Despite the defeat, the United States retained top spot in Group D, having already secured it before the final round, continuing their journey with confidence — they fielded the most players across the three matches, a “luxury.” Though the defeat exposed some gaps in their backup squad.

Australia didn’t need beautiful football as much as they needed competitive character and tactical discipline, which earned them a deserved ticket to the Round of 32.

Turkey, meanwhile, bowed out with a win that reflected quality that came too late, while Paraguay remained in limbo, waiting to see if their defensive resilience would be enough to keep their dream alive.

Notable stats

The round featured two notable stats: Australia recorded only their second goalless draw in their last 23 World Cup matches, while the United States scored eight goals in the 2026 edition — their highest-ever tally in a World Cup campaign, surpassing their previous record of seven set in 1930 and matched in 2002, even if the defeat soured their qualification celebrations.