Welcome to The Athletic’s 2026 World Cup tactical group guides, walking you through the key battles on the pitch, the players to look out for, and the fun facts to impress your friends.In this article, we will break down Group D, containing the United States, Turkey, Australia and Paraguay. Based on FIFA’s rankings, it is the most evenly matched group at this summer’s tournament, with 24 places separating the top side (U.S., No 16) and bottom side (Paraguay, No 40).All eyes will be on Mauricio Pochettino and the USMNT, but their opponents are in good shape. Both Turkey and Paraguay have lost only once across their last 10 competitive games, and Australia looked dominant at times in qualifying.So, will Pochettino’s brave new style pay off against tough opposition? Could Turkey’s attacking rotations create danger? Can Australia still cause chaos from crosses, and might Paraguay be the group’s dark horse?Pochettino was hired to deliver a strong World Cup for the USMNT – will he succeed? (Adam Hunger/Getty Images)The gamesMatchday one
Friday, June 12: United States vs Paraguay (9pm ET, 6pm PT, 2am BST+1) — SoFi Stadium, Inglewood
Saturday, June 13: Australia vs Turkey (12am ET, 9pm PT, 5am BST+1) — BC Place, Vancouver
