In brief
- Australia will secure a place in the knockout rounds with a win or draw against Paraguay in their final World Cup group stage match.
- Defender Jason Geria says Australia will be playing for the win.
The Socceroos will be looking to bounce back from their heartbreaking loss to the USA and secure their place in the knockout rounds when they take on Paraguay in their final FIFA World Cup group match.
Currently second in Group D, Australia can seal a place in the Round of 32 with a win or a draw in Santa Clara, near San Francisco, at 12pm Friday (AEST), which you can watch live and free on SBS or SBS On Demand.
Before the tournament, Paraguay were considered the Socceroos' most beatable opponent with a FIFA ranking of 37, but after they defeated Türkiye last week the stakes have been raised.
The biggest question is what the starting line-up will look like after Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe, who both scored in Australia's opening win over Türkiye, started on the bench for the 2-0 defeat to the USA.
The Socceroos looked flat in their opening half against the USA, conceding twice before half-time.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
They improved dramatically after the break, with substitutes Irankunda, Metcalfe and Cristian Volpato injecting fresh energy into the game and helping swing momentum Australia's way.
Coach Tony Popovic's team selection came under scrutiny after the defeat, and it will be interesting to see whether he returns to the starting 11 that defeated Türkiye.
Paraguay star to miss the match
The Socceroos have been handed a boost with the absence of Paraguay star Miguel Almirón, who was sent off in his team's 1-0 win over Türkiye on Saturday (AEST).
The midfielder became the first player to receive a red card under FIFA's new rule banning players from covering their mouths during confrontations with opponents, a measure introduced to stamp out abusive comments.
Paraguay are a defence-first side, relying on quick transitions rather than patient build-up play. Their backline stood firm against Türkiye, despite the side being reduced to 10 men for the second half.
Fernando Romero is the only Paraguayan to play in the A-League. He worked under Popovic and alongside Socceroos Jason Geria, Paul Izzo and Nishan Velupillay at Melbourne Victory.
Romero provided some insight into the mood in Paraguay's camp heading into the match.
"Right now, the spirits have risen again," he told the Australian Associated Press in an interview translated from Spanish.
"We were very sad and we were very afraid to lose again in that second game and go out of the World Cup very quickly.
"So this game [against Türkiye] returned the hope of the people again. They saw the team we saw during the qualifying rounds for the World Cup again. So now people are hopeful again.
"This game against Australia, for sure it's going to be a game of life or death.
"The one who wins goes on and the one who loses goes back to their country."
It's worth pointing out that the Socceroos could progress even if they lose, but it depends how the rest of the groups perform.
What's at stake?
Australia and Paraguay are level on three points after one win each, with the Socceroos sitting second in Group D on overall goal difference.
A draw would be enough for Australia to remain second and qualify for the Round of 32, where they would face the runner-up from Group G — Belgium, New Zealand, Iran or Egypt.
A defeat would likely still see the Socceroos progress as one of the tournament's eight best third-placed teams, but it would almost certainly mean a far tougher Round of 32 opponent — the winner of either Group E, Group I, or Group K.
As the standings currently sit, that means they would face Germany, France or Portugal.
Socceroos defender Jason Geria said Australia would be playing for the win against Paraguay.
"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," Geria 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.
"We want to win every game, regardless of who the opponent is or what the situation is."
Australia v Paraguay head-to-head record
Australia and Paraguay have met five times, all in friendlies. The Socceroos hold the head-to-head record, with two wins and three draws. Their last match-up was a 1-0 home win for the Socceroos in Sydney in 2010.
When is kick-off?
The match kicks off at 12pm Friday AEST at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium.
— With additional reporting by the Australian Associated Press.
You can watch all 104 matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ live, free and exclusive on SBS, SBS VICELAND and SBS On Demand.
For the latest from SBS News, download our app and subscribe to our newsletter.
