World Cup 2026: How the US advanced out of Group D The United States Men’s National Team got off to a rousing start at the 2026 World Cup, with a 4-1 win over Paraguay. The USMNT was dynamic, creative, and showed to the entire soccer world that they could be a force to be reckoned with at this tournament.
Now, on the verge of their second match of group play, they have a chance to accomplish another item on this year’s to-do list.
Here are the clinching scenarios for Group D ahead of the final matches in group play.
What are the Group D standings?
Here are the current Group D standings, ahead of the final two matches set for June 25.
Team
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
Points
United States 2 0 0 6 1 +5 6 Australia 1 0 1 2 2 0 3 Paraguay 1 0 1 2 4 -2 3 Türkiye 0 0 2 0 3 -3 0
What are the next Group D matches?
There are four matches left in Group D, starting with two on Friday, June 19.
United States 2, Australia 0
Paraguay 1, Türkiye 0
Türkiye vs. United States
Paraguay vs. Australia
What are the scenarios for Group D?
Here are the scenarios ahead of the final day of matches, set for June 25. These scenarios involve automatic qualification for the Round of 32 as one of the top two teams in the group. Teams can still advance as a third-place team, and for more on those standings we have you covered here. In addition, teams that are “eliminated” are guaranteed to finish fourth in their group.
The United States has already clinched the top spot in Group D, and will play a third-place team from Group B, E, F, I, or J. For more on who the United States will play, we are tracking that here.
Australia will clinch a spot in the Round of 32 as the second-place team in Group D with a win or draw against Paraguay
Paraguay will advance as the second-place team in Group D with a win against Australia.
Türkiye has already been eliminated.
Here is how tiebreakers work at the World Cup this year.
If two or more teams in the same group are equal on points following the group stage, a three-step process will be followed to determine tiebreakers.
In the first step, the greatest number of points in the group matches between the tied teams will be applied. Then, the superior goal difference from the group matches between the tied teams will be applied, and finally, the greatest number of goals scored in all group matches between the tied teams will be applied.
If that cannot determine a tiebreaker, then the teams that are still equal will advance to step two. In this stage, the first step is the goal difference in all group matches, then the greatest number of goals in all group matches, and finally the highest team conduct score (relating to yellow and red cards) will be applied.
If that does not break the tie, then the teams still equal on points will be ranked according to the most recent FIFA World Rankings.
That first step, which reads “greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned” according to FIFA, effectively turns into a head-to-head tiebreaker in the case of ties between two teams.
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The United States Men’s National Team got off to a rousing start at the 2026 World Cup, with a 4-1 win over Paraguay. The USMNT was dynamic, creative, and showed to the entire soccer world that they could be a force to be reckoned with at this tournament.
Now, on the verge of their second match of group play, they have a chance to accomplish another item on this year’s to-do list.
Here are the clinching scenarios for Group D ahead of the final matches in group play.
What are the Group D standings?
Here are the current Group D standings, ahead of the final two matches set for June 25.
Team | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | +5 | 6 |
| Australia | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Paraguay | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 3 |
| Türkiye | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 |
What are the next Group D matches?
There are four matches left in Group D, starting with two on Friday, June 19.
United States 2, Australia 0
Paraguay 1, Türkiye 0
Türkiye vs. United States
Paraguay vs. Australia
What are the scenarios for Group D?
Here are the scenarios ahead of the final day of matches, set for June 25. These scenarios involve automatic qualification for the Round of 32 as one of the top two teams in the group. Teams can still advance as a third-place team, and for more on those standings we have you covered here. In addition, teams that are “eliminated” are guaranteed to finish fourth in their group.
The United States has already clinched the top spot in Group D, and will play a third-place team from Group B, E, F, I, or J. For more on who the United States will play, we are tracking that here.
Australia will clinch a spot in the Round of 32 as the second-place team in Group D with a win or draw against Paraguay
Paraguay will advance as the second-place team in Group D with a win against Australia.
Türkiye has already been eliminated.
Here is how tiebreakers work at the World Cup this year.
If two or more teams in the same group are equal on points following the group stage, a three-step process will be followed to determine tiebreakers.
In the first step, the greatest number of points in the group matches between the tied teams will be applied. Then, the superior goal difference from the group matches between the tied teams will be applied, and finally, the greatest number of goals scored in all group matches between the tied teams will be applied.
If that cannot determine a tiebreaker, then the teams that are still equal will advance to step two. In this stage, the first step is the goal difference in all group matches, then the greatest number of goals in all group matches, and finally the highest team conduct score (relating to yellow and red cards) will be applied.
If that does not break the tie, then the teams still equal on points will be ranked according to the most recent FIFA World Rankings.
That first step, which reads “greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned” according to FIFA, effectively turns into a head-to-head tiebreaker in the case of ties between two teams.


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