Paraguay draws Australia, waits on results to reach World Cup round of 16

Paraguay settled for a 0-0 draw with Australia at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, and closed the third and final round of Group D at the 2026 World Cup with four points. The result left the Selección de Paraguay in third place in the group and still dependent on the table of best third-place finishers to secure a place in the round of 16.

Gustavo Alfaro did not hide his frustration. He said the feeling was “sabor a poco,” and acknowledged that Paraguay had come into the match aiming to beat Australia, not to leave with a point. At the same time, the Argentine coach was clear that the opponent’s speed and the demands of the match had to be weighed before treating the draw as a failure.

That balance captures Paraguay’s position as the tournament moves on. After losing its opening match to the United States, the team had been under pressure to respond, and it did so by beating Turkey before facing Australia. The four points gave Paraguay a real chance of advancing, but not certainty, and the team still needed help from results elsewhere in the other groups to confirm its place among the best third-place sides.

The tactical choice underlined that tension between caution and ambition. Alfaro backed a line of five defenders to blunt Australia’s pace, and the setup delivered a clean sheet. It also exposed the limits of Paraguay’s attack, which struggled to turn control into clear chances in a game that never fully opened up.

For Paraguay, the night in Santa Clara ended with defensive order but offensive frustration. The draw left the team with a credible path to the knockout stage, yet it also reinforced the narrow margin between a useful point against a difficult opponent and the opportunity it may have let slip.