Paraguay draw sends Australia to round of 32, drops South Korea to 6th among third-place teams

Australia and Paraguay drew Friday, splitting points — and in doing so, pushed South Korea one spot further down the standings among third-place teams competing for a round-of-32 berth.

The two sides finished 0-0 in their Group D finale at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in California on Friday at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Both teams ended the group stage with one win, one draw and one loss for four points each, slotting in behind co-host United States — which had already clinched first place — to share second and third in the group.

Australia (two goals scored, two conceded) and Paraguay (two goals scored, four conceded) were separated by goal difference. At this tournament, the top eight third-place finishers across all 12 groups also advance to the round of 32. A third-place team with four points from a 1-1-1 record has a very strong chance of advancing.

Third-place teams with three points from a 1-2 record — like South Korea — face a tighter fight for survival, with only some advancing based on goal difference and goals scored. Paraguay's result pushed South Korea down to sixth among all third-place teams.

The United States, meanwhile, fell 2-3 to Turkey to finish the group stage with two wins and one loss for six points. Turkey, already eliminated before the match, claimed their first win of the tournament, finishing with three points on a 1-2 record.

The United States will face Group B's third-place finisher Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32 on July 2 at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium. Australia will play the Group G runner-up on July 4 at Dallas Stadium for a spot in the round of 16.

Both Australia and Paraguay played cautiously, as a draw was likely enough for either side to advance — Australia as group runners-up, Paraguay as a third-place qualifier. Australia controlled possession and dictated the tempo for much of the match, but Paraguay's compact defensive shape kept them from converting that dominance into goals.

Both teams entered the United States-Turkey match with their final standings already decided. The United States seized the initiative just three minutes in, when Sebastian Berhalter whipped in a corner from the left and Auston Trusty collected it on the right side of the box before finishing with his left foot.

Turkey equalized almost immediately. In the 10th minute, Baris Alper Yilmaz played the ball from the right side of the penalty area to Arda Guler, who calmly finished with his left foot from directly in front of goal — Turkey's first score of the tournament.

Turkey survived a scare in the 29th minute when a Mark McKenzie goal from a US corner was ruled offside, then took the lead two minutes later. After a series of short passes broke down the US defense, Eren Elmali threaded a pass from near the left endline inside the penalty area to Orkun Kokcu, who tapped in at close range with his right foot.

Trailing 1-2 at halftime, the United States leveled again four minutes into the second half on a low, skidding shot from Berhalter. Shooting with his right foot from the left side of the penalty area, Berhalter sent the ball curling low toward the left post, where it rose slightly and found the net. He finished the match with one goal and one assist.

The United States came agonizingly close in the 73rd minute when Ricardo Pepi's overhead kick deflected off Christian Pulisic's foot, grazed the goalkeeper's hands and struck the post before coming back out. But deep into stoppage time, Kan Ayhan scored a dramatic winner to seal the result in Turkey's favor.