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When do the Socceroos play next at the World Cup? Everything you need to know

Here's how to watch Friday's match against Paraguay — and what's at stake.

Eleven men, most wearing green and gold uniforms, apart from one wearing a purple uniform, standing in formation on a bright green field.
A win or a draw would see Australia advance to the knockout round. Source: AAP / Steve Faber

Australians will take a long lunch this Friday to watch the Socceroos' final group-stage match as the team faces Paraguay for a spot in the knockouts.

Will Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe repeat their goalscoring success against Türkiye? Can Patrick Beach save Australia's chance at surviving the group stage?

Or will Paraguay take the lead, as midfielder Matías Galarza delivered on Saturday when his aggressive goal just 64 seconds after the starting whistle sent Türkiye packing their bags?

When do the Socceroos play next?

The Socceroos will play Paraguay on Friday, with kick off at 12pm AEST.

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The match will be played at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in California.

What do the Socceroos need to qualify?

The Socceroos are competing for second place in Group D of the FIFA World Cup.

They need a draw or a win to automatically advance to the Round of 32.

Who could Australia face in the knockouts?

If the Socceroos achieve this, they'll face the runner-up in Group G — either Egypt or Iran.

If Australia loses on Friday, there's still a chance it can qualify under new rules introduced by FIFA, which will see eight teams ranked third in their group go through to the knockout stages.

In that case, the Socceroos would face the winner of either Group E, Group I, or Group K.

That would mean a potential showdown against Germany, Norway or Colombia, respectively, as the results currently stand.

How can I watch Australia v Paraguay?

We've got you covered.

All matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026 are being broadcast on SBS and streamed On Demand for free.

Watch Australia take on Paraguay here:

Where are the live sites across Australia?

There will also be more than a dozen sites across the country showing the match live on the big screen.

Melbourne

  • Federation Square
  • Docklands Stadium
  • Melbourne Rectangular Stadium
  • Broadmeadows Town Hall

Sydney

  • Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour
  • Cathy Freeman Park, Olympic Park
  • Parramatta Square
  • Blacktown Football Park
  • Cirillo Reserve, Middleton Grang
  • Civic Square, Merrylands
  • North Bondi Park — Ramsgate Avenue

Brisbane

  • South Bank Cultural Forecourt

Adelaide

  • The Drive

Perth

  • Northbridge Piazza

ACT

  • University of Canberra Refectory

NT

  • Darwin Football Stadium

You can watch all 104 matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ live, free and exclusive on SBS, SBS VICELAND and SBS On Demand.


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3 min read

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Source: SBS News



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