On the night of June 13, the third host nation of the 2026 FIFA World Cup takes center stage — the USA national team. That’s why Group D kicks off before Group C, adhering to the principle of local opening ceremonies in each of the three host countries.

Alongside the United States, Group D also features Paraguay, Australia, and Turkey. Who are these teams? How have they performed in past World Cups, and how did they qualify for this tournament? RBC-Ukraine, with support from GGBET, provides an in-depth look at each member of this quartet.

USA: Pochettino and Pulisic Take on Europe

The U.S. national team has been a regular at World Cups. In fact, over the past 36 years, they missed only one tournament — the 2018 edition, which many would argue they didn’t deserve to attend anyway. Their best performance came in 2002, when they reached the quarterfinals after navigating a tough group that included Portugal, Poland, and the tournament’s biggest surprise — South Korea. They defeated Mexico 2–0 in the round of 16 before falling to Germany 0–1 in the quarterfinals.

This time around, I’d dare to say the Americans could do just as well — or even better — than they did 24 years ago. First, they’ve got a top-tier coach: Mauricio Pochettino. Second, they boast a legend no less than Landon Donovan — Christian Pulisic. The 28-year-old forward is one of AC Milan’s key players and has scored 33 goals in 86 caps for his country. Pulisic is the face of the U.S. attack, and every opponent in this tournament will have to reckon with him.

As hosts, the USA bypassed qualification. Still, they’ve played four matches ahead of the 2026 tournament — nearly all against strong sides: Belgium, Germany, Portugal, and Senegal. The result? Three losses out of four. Their only win came against Senegal (3–2), while they fell to European powers — losing 1–2 to Germany, 0–2 to Portugal, and suffering a heavy 2–5 defeat to Belgium.

Fortunately, there’s only one European opponent in their group, so U.S. fans can breathe easy. Plus, Pochettino’s side has a real shot at challenging for first place — especially against Turkey.

Turkey: Renaissance and Stars from Top Clubs

You won’t believe it — and no, it’s not a typo: the Turkish national team has only appeared in two World Cups prior to this one. Their debut was in 1954, when they failed to advance past the group stage. Their second appearance came in 2002 — the same year they famously knocked out South Korea, who had caused quite a stir at that tournament.

There’s a clear parallel between Turkey and the USA: both are experiencing a renaissance. At Euro 2024, Turkey reached the quarterfinals, where they lost to the Netherlands — but their chances of reaching the same stage at the World Cup are no worse.

Turkey delivered an impressive qualifying campaign: despite being grouped with European champions Spain, the team from the Bosphorus suffered a 0–6 home loss to their direct rival but managed a 2–2 draw away. That was enough to finish second, advance to the playoffs, defeat Romania 1–0 in the semifinal, and then beat Kosovo 1–0 in the decisive match.

Looking at Turkey’s squad, it’s practically a parade of stars from elite clubs: Manchester United, Roma, Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Porto, Juventus… Naturally, the team’s leader is Inter’s Hakan Çalhanoğlu. At just 32, he’s already made over 100 appearances for his country. But don’t overlook Real Madrid’s Arda Güler, considered one of Europe’s most promising young forwards. And then there’s Kenan Yıldız from Juventus — arguably the most rapidly improving player on the roster.

Coaching this star-studded lineup is Italian specialist Vincenzo Montella. He boasts extensive club experience in Serie A — Catania, Fiorentina, Sampdoria, Milan — plus a stint with Sevilla in Spain. Montella arrived in Turkey in 2021, initially managing Adana Demirspor, before taking over the national team two years later. For him, this World Cup is another chance to showcase his talents to the global coaching community. But if things go wrong? Better pack your bags and flee Turkey — the fans won’t forgive failure.

Australia: Strange Times in Asia

It seems Australia’s progress stalled after switching to Asian qualification. Prior to 2006, they qualified through Oceania, facing minimal competition. Moving to the AFC gave them more opportunities — but also raised the bar. Now, Australia is one of those teams capable of surprising everyone… or disappointing them just as easily.

Paraguay: The Unexpected Contender

Paraguay rarely grabs headlines, but they always know how to surprise. In recent years, they’ve shown consistent form, especially in qualifiers. Their style? Combinational football with a focus on defense and quick counterattacks. Paraguay could very well be the “dark horse” of Group D — capable of knocking out favorites.

Betting Partner GGBET: Deep Markets and Top Odds

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