With a “convenient” goalless draw, the Paraguay-Australia match, held in San Francisco, for the 3rd and final matchday of Group 4 at the 2026 World Cup, ended.

    Given the situation that seems to be shaping up regarding qualification to the “32” and the strong possibility that a team with four points will secure its presence in the next phase, the two opponents fought primarily to not concede goals and secondarily to score.

    Before the start of the match, both teams had three points each (from their victories over Turkey) and as time went on, the point of a draw became more valuable. Somehow, the score never opened, with Australia securing second place due to better goal difference and Paraguay waiting to progress in the remaining groups, with the chances of qualifying overwhelmingly in their favor.

    Referee: Clement Turpin (France)
    Yellows: Gomez – Irvine
    Reds:
    Lineups:

    PARAGUAY (Gustavo Alfaro): Hill, Velasquez, Alderete (84′ Canale), Caceres, Gomez, Maidana (46′ Mauricio), Gomez (90′+2′ Bobadilla), Kubas, Galartha (90′+2′ Alonso), Enciso, Avalos (67′ Barrios).
    
    AUSTRALIA (Tony Popovic): Beach, Sirkati, Bosch, Behic, Sutar, Herrington, Metcalfe, O’Neill, Irvine (84′ Ocon-Englster), Irancunda (84′ Yengi), Volpato (58′ Hrustic).