SANTA CLARA, California — A 0-0 draw with Paraguay was enough to send Australia into the round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the Socceroos will meet the second-placed finisher from Group G in Dallas on July 3, according to the report. The match in Santa Clara secured progression for both teams in the expanded tournament.
The newly expanded 48-team format means eight of the 12 third-placed sides also progress, a change that reduced the necessity of an all-out push for victory in a match where a draw would likely suffice, the report said. In the end, the scoreless stalemate proved straightforward and achieved the required result for both nations.
The outcome lacked the drama of Australia’s late qualification in Doha four years ago, when Mathew Leckie’s strike defeated Denmark and sent the Socceroos into the last 16, the report noted. This time Australia advanced into the first-ever World Cup round of 32 under the new structure.
Midfielder Jackson Irvine reflected on the achievement, saying, “To go back-to-back, to finish second in the group, for two consecutive World Cups — [it’s] a massive achievement. The group deserves it. They put a lot of work in to get to this moment. It’s another step forward.” He added, “It’s amazing. Me and Harry were talking about it. Obviously, the way that the game went meant … the sense of achievement is still the same, but maybe not as dramatic.”
The Socceroos will travel to Cowboys Stadium in Dallas to face the Group G runner-up on July 3. That opponent will be decided after Friday’s matches — Belgium against New Zealand in Vancouver and Iran versus Egypt in Seattle — the report said. Thursday’s result leaves Australia with progression secured and preparations turning toward their knockout assignment.
