Paraguay faces an anxious wait, dependent on the outcomes of the remaining group stage matches to see if the team can advance as one of the eight best third-placed teams in the 2026 World Cup. In an uneventful match, Paraguay drew 0-0 against Australia and finished in third place in Group D, awaiting the results of the other groups to find out if the team will be among the best third-placed teams in the World Cup. Following the goalless draw against Australia, the progression to the next stage is no longer in the hands of the Albirroja (The White and Red).
A cautious affair
The match itself was a cautious affair, largely dictated by the defensive strategy employed by the Paraguayan manager Gustavo Alfaro. His team showed respect for their Australian opponents, but this approach came at a significant cost to their own attacking ambitions.
Throughout the majority of the match, Paraguay remained deep in their own half, seemingly content to absorb pressure rather than create their own. This allowed Australia to control the tempo of the game, although they too struggled to find a decisive breakthrough.
A contrast in goalkeeping duties
The story of the match can be largely understood by looking at the workloads of the two goalkeepers. Australia’s Patrick Beach enjoyed a remarkably quiet evening between the posts, so much so that he was effectively reduced to the role of a spectator. Paraguay failed to register a single shot that seriously troubled him, a clear indictment of their offensive timidity. In contrast, Paraguay’s Orlando Gill was the busier of the two custodians.
Gill was called upon to make three important saves to keep his team in the game. On several occasions, Australia managed to build promising attacks, using two or three quick passes to slice through the Paraguayan defence and create opportunities in front of goal. However, to Paraguay’s great relief, the resulting shots consistently lacked the power and precision required to beat the goalkeeper. This combination of Gill’s alertness and Australia’s profligacy ensured the scoreline remained level.
Further setbacks for the squad
Beyond the goalless result, the match delivered further blows to the Paraguayan squad. Influential player Diego Gómez received his second yellow card of the tournament. As a result, he will be suspended for the team’s next crucial fixture, should they manage to qualify for the knockout stages. His absence will undoubtedly be felt in a team already searching for creative inspiration.
Adding to Alfaro’s concerns, defender Omar Alderete ignited alarm bells when he was forced to leave the pitch with an injury. The nature and severity of his condition remain unknown, pending a thorough medical assessment. The team now faces another tense wait for these results, which will determine Alderete’s availability for the remainder of their potential World Cup campaign.
The nervous wait begins
After beating Türkiye in the previous match, this hard-fought draw places Paraguay as the fourth-best third-placed team out of the eight nations vying for a limited number of spots in the next round. Their position is precarious, and they must now rely on favourable results from other groups to seal their progression. Should fortune favour them and they advance, an immense challenge likely awaits, with football powerhouse Germany looming as a potential opponent.
For now, the players and the nation can do nothing but watch and wait as their World Cup destiny is decided elsewhere.
Match summary
FIFA World Cup 2026, Group D, Matchday 3
Paraguay 0-0 Australia
Stadium: San Francisco Bay Area Stadium – Santa Clara, California, United States. Referee: Clément Turpin (France). Assistant Referees: Nicolas Danos (France) and Benjamin Pages (France). Fourth Official: Oshane Nation (Jamaica). Fifth Official: Caleb Wales (Trinidad and Tobago). VAR: Jérôme Brisard (France). AVAR: Willy Delajod (France).
Yellow Cards: 77′ Diego Gómez (Paraguay); 46′ Jackson Irvine (Australia).
Lineups
Paraguay (0): Orlando Gill; Juan Cáceres, Gustavo Velázquez, Gustavo Gómez, Omar Alderete (84′ José Canale) and Alexandro Maidana (46′ Mauricio Magalhães); Diego Gómez (90’+2′ Damián Bobadilla), Andrés Cubas and Matías Galarza (90’+2′ Junior Alonso); Julio Enciso and Gabriel Ávalos (67′ Álex Arce). Coach: Gustavo Alfaro.
Australia (0): Patrick Beach; Alessandro Circati, Jordan Bos, Aziz Behich, Harry Souttar and Lucas Herrington; Connor Metcalfe, Aiden O’Neill and Jackson Irvine (84′ Paul Okon-Engstler); Nestory Irankunda (84′ Tete Yengi) and Cristian Volpato (58′ Ajdin Hrustic). DT: Tony Popovic.
