Friday delivers a make-or-break encounter at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
A high-stakes Group D showdown awaits at Levi’s Stadium as Paraguay takes on Australia in the final round of World Cup group-stage action. Both teams have collected three points so far, but Australia holds the upper hand in second place due to goal difference.
That means Paraguay must win to confirm its place in the next round, while the Socceroos can advance to the Round of 32 with just a draw, setting up a tense and finely balanced contest.
Read our Paraguay vs Australia prediction to see which side has more riding on this crucial clash.
Paraguay vs Australia prediction for the 2026 World Cup
Who advances and who packs their bags? This is the game that could shape the entire tournament for Paraguay and Australia at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Here is our recommended bet:
Under 2.5 Goals
Who are the favourites?
Based on the leading UK-licensed bookmakers, Paraguay is tipped to come out on top, with 32% of the odds leaning towards their win.
Looking for more? Browse all the World Cup odds and dig into this and other ties from the planet's biggest football tournament.
Paraguay vs Australia: head-to-head
Paraguay and Australia share no recent head-to-head record, so this is effectively their first meeting in years.
Paraguay at the 2026 World Cup
Paraguay arrive having already played 2 match(es) at the 2026 World Cup. Here is the record for Paraguay National Team:
At the World Cup:
1 win(s), 0 draw(s) and 1 loss(es)
1.5 point(s) per game on average
2 goals scored at the World Cup (1 per game)
4 goals conceded at the World Cup (2 per game)
Paraguay National Team in 2026
10 win(s), 7 draw(s) and 6 loss(es) in all competitions
Leading scorer: Antonio Sanabria with 4 goal(s)
Most assists: Diego Gómez with 2
Australia at the 2026 World Cup
Australia go into this tie with 2 match(es) already behind them at the 2026 World Cup.
Here is what Australia National Team have managed so far:
At the World Cup
1 win(s), 0 draw(s) and 1 loss(es)
1.5 point(s) per game on average
2 goals scored at the World Cup (1 per game)
2 goals conceded at the World Cup (1 per game)
Australia National Team in 2026
14 win(s), 5 draw(s) and 3 loss(es) in all competitions
Leading scorer: Kusini Boja Yengi with 6 goal(s)
Most assists: Craig Goodwin with 5
Paraguay vs Australia statistics at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Before you stake anything, look over the side-by-side comparison that sheds light on each nation's current form for this World Cup tie:
Paraguay
International - World Cup
Australia
International - World Cup
| Form | Last 5 | PPG |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | L W D L W |
1.4 |
| Home | W W W W W |
3 |
| Away | L D L L L |
0.2 |
| Stats | Overall | Home | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| Win % | 50% | 100% | 0% |
| Goals | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Scored | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Conceded | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Both Teams to Score | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Without Conceding | 50% | 100% | 0% |
| Failed To Score | 50% | 0% | 100% |
| 1st to Score | 50% | 100% | 0% |
|
xG
|
0.93 | 1.1 | 0.75 |
|
xGA
|
2.21 | 3.19 | 1.22 |
Paraguay vs Australia probable lineups
See the likely starting eleven below for our Paraguay vs Australia prediction at the 2026 World Cup.
Paraguay Predicted XI: Carlos Coronel, Gustavo Velázquez, Fabián Balbuena, Omar Alderete, Júnior Alonso, Andrés Cubas, Mathías Villasanti, Diego Gómez, Julio Enciso, Ramón Sosa, Alex Arce.
Australia Predicted XI: Mathew Ryan, Harry Souttar, Kye Rowles, Cameron Burgess, Aziz Behich, Jackson Irvine, Connor Metcalfe, Aiden O'Neill, Jordan Bos, Mitchell Duke, Nestory Irankunda.
The confirmed lineups will be available close to the kickoff time.
How to watch Paraguay vs Australia live in the UK
Find out below where you can catch Paraguay vs Australia live during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Just remember, kick-off is at 03:00 UK time.
For the full schedule, check our our World Cup live streaming page.
More betting tips for this match
Alongside the main tip given at the top of this article, here are some other strong bets for Paraguay vs Australia:
Further 2026 World Cup predictions
Browse all of our 2026 FIFA World Cup predictions and keep up with the sharpest analysis from start to finish of the tournament.
Match details: Paraguay vs Australia
🆚 Fixture Paraguay vs Australia
🏆 Tournament 2026 FIFA World Cup
📅 Date Friday, 26/06/2026
🕐 Kick-off 03:00 UK time
🏟️ Venue Levi’s Stadium
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Sports betting analyst with over ten years of experience in football analysis, match statistics and betting markets.