SANTA CLARA: Australia head into their final World Cup group match against Paraguay with their fate in their hands, needing only a draw to reach the knockout phase, while the South Americans face a more daunting scenario if victory proves elusive.

With the United States having already sealed top spot in Group ‘D’ and face eliminated Turkiye in the other clash, Australia and Paraguay will battle for second place to earn a potentially easier opponent in the round-of-32.

A winning team at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium on Thursday will play the second-placed team in Group ‘G’, which remains wide open before leading Egypt face second-placed Iran and third-placed Belgium meet New Zealand.

The loser would be condemned to relying on other results to advance as one of the eight highest-ranked third-place finishers.

A draw provides an intriguing scenario for both teams, though, as Paraguay would be highly likely to advance with Australia on four points each, leaving the chance that pragmatism outweighs a full-blooded push for victory.

With scores locked in the second half, Australia, particularly, may be tempted to minimise risk and maintain the status quo.

Not that Socceroos defender Jason Geria was having any of it.

“I think you’re cheating the game in a way if you’re looking to just call a truce with 10 minutes to go, that doesn’t seem right in my opinion,” he said.

“Yeah, we could both progress with a point, that’s evident, but I don’t think it’s in us to just concede or just take the foot off the gas.”

Australia will look to rebound from a 2-0 defeat by the US in Seattle, a huge letdown for the country following their 2-0 upset of Turkiye in the opener.

With the match to kick off at midday on Friday for most people in the country, the national economy is tipped to grind to a halt as workers clock off early — or “chuck a sickie” (take a sick day).

Paraguay bring momentum after their courageous 1-0 win over Turkiye, reduced to 10 by Miguel Almiron’s landmark red card for putting his hand over his mouth.

The Atlanta United attacker is banned for the Australia clash but would be available for the round-of-32 if Paraguay advance.

The other Group ‘D’ fixture is effectively a dead rubber but US coach Mauricio Pochettino still has decisions to make, with forward Folarin Balogun, midfielder Tyler Adams and defenders Chris Richards and Antonee Robinson all carrying yellow cards.

Any player booked twice during the three group-stage matches is suspended for the next game, meaning Pochettino is likely to rest or limit the minutes of the quartet before the U.S. begin the knockout stage on July 1 in Santa Clara.

Turkiye, making their first World Cup appearance in 24 years, will be desperate to avoid going home without a win or even a goal.

For a team that arrived with high expectations, victory over the co-hosts would not salvage their campaign but would at least soften the blow of an early exit.

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2026