IRVINE, Calif. — The United States could win its 2026 World Cup group with a game to spare if it beats Australia on Friday and gets some help from Paraguay.The U.S. currently sits top of Group D on goal differential, slightly ahead of the Aussies, who beat Turkey 2-0 on Saturday night in Vancouver.Australia’s victory opened up a path for the U.S. to clinch the top spot in the group when those two teams meet Friday at Lumen Field in Seattle.If the U.S. wins, and if Turkey doesn’t beat Paraguay in their match several hours later that evening, the U.S. would win the group — in part thanks to FIFA’s new World Cup tiebreaker rules.Whereas the first tiebreaker at previous World Cups was goal differential, the first tiebreaker at the 2026 tournament is head-to-head results, per FIFA’s World Cup regulations.So, if the U.S. beats Australia, it would have the tiebreaker over both Australia and Paraguay and at least a three-point lead on both. Only Turkey would be able to catch the U.S. — with a win over Paraguay on Matchday 2 and then a win over the U.S. on Matchday 3. If the Turks lose to or draw with Paraguay on Friday, therefore, the U.S. would be clear.The head-to-head tiebreaker makes Friday’s match all the more important.By the same token, Australia can clinch the top spot with a win over the U.S. and a Turkey win or draw vs. Paraguay.