A scoreless result between Australia and Paraguay has sent the Socceroos into the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Socceroos took on La Albirroja at San Francisco Stadium in their final Group D match and finished second in the group.
(Group leaders USA were defeated 3-2 by Turkiye who now head home.)
Socceroo Aiden O’Neill was declared player of the match.
“I’m proud of the boys and what our coach is doing is truly outstanding,” Socceroos midfielder Ajdin Hrustic says.
“I think we had two or three chances in and around the box where maybe we could have scored but you always have to look at the positives.
“We’ll prepare as well as we can again. First of all, we’re going to enjoy today because we’ve achieved something special again, for ourselves, for our country and for everyone back home.”
SCORELESS RESULT IS ENOUGH
Socceroos Head Coach Tony Popovic had made six changes to the side that lost to the US: Cristian Volpato made his Socceroos debut, Lucas Herrington made his World Cup debut as Jackson Irvine came into the midfield for Paul Okon-Engstler, Aziz Behich replaced the injured Jacob Italiano, Connor Metcalfe came in for the injured Mathew Leckie and Nestory Irankunda started ahead of Nishan Velupillay.
The Socceroos now enter the Round of 32 while La Albirroja will have to wait to learn if they are also through.
Australia is due to play the runners-up from Group G (most likely Belgium or Iran) in Dallas on July 3.
“It was an even, physical match,” Paraguayan player Gustavo Gomez told www.fifa.com.au
“We struggled in the first half; I think we couldn’t find our footing. We made adjustments at half-time and the second half was better,” he says.
“The important thing is that we earned a point. I think with this result we’ve qualified, which was our primary objective,” he says of the scoreless result.
In other results on the day, Ecuador upset Germany 2-1 in New Jersey, Japan and Sweden drew 1-1 at Dallas, Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) beat Curacao 2-0 at Philadelphia and the Netherlands defeated Tunisia 3-1 in Kansas City.
OTHER WORLD CUP NEWS: US loss not enough to send Socceroos home
