{"id":214970,"date":"2026-06-26T13:28:39","date_gmt":"2026-06-26T13:28:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/australia-reach-world-cup-2026-knockout-stage-on-drab-goalless-draw-paraguay-set-to-progress-live-updates-reaction-the-new-york-times\/"},"modified":"2026-06-26T13:28:39","modified_gmt":"2026-06-26T13:28:39","slug":"australia-reach-world-cup-2026-knockout-stage-on-drab-goalless-draw-paraguay-set-to-progress-live-updates-reaction-the-new-york-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/australia-reach-world-cup-2026-knockout-stage-on-drab-goalless-draw-paraguay-set-to-progress-live-updates-reaction-the-new-york-times\/","title":{"rendered":"Australia reach World Cup 2026 knockout stage on drab goalless draw, Paraguay set to progress: Live updates, reaction – The New York Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

World Cup
FIFA World
Cup 2026
Advertisement
Australia and Paraguay played out a disappointing goalless draw to complete their group stage at the 2026 World Cup in Santa Clara, Calif.<\/strong>
The result sees Australia progress to the knockout stage as the second-placed team in Group D, behind the U.S., who lost late against Turkey<\/a>.
Paraguay finish third and are almost certain to progress and face Germany in the round of 32; Australia are most likely to face Belgium.
GO FURTHER
Paraguay and Australia play out goalless draw that should see both sides progress to knockouts
Australia head coach Tony Popovic has opened up on the match and how happy he is to be progressing in his post-match interview.
💬 \u201cWe at no stage felt we were playing for a draw. We were in control and had the better opportunities. We didn\u2019t look like conceding a chance. <\/strong><\/em>
\u201cWe tried to win the game. In the end a draw was enough for both nations. Congratulations to Paraguay. I'm sure they are feeling the euphoria and joy we are feeling.<\/strong><\/em>
\u201cWe knew the rules prior. Our goal difference enabled us to be ahead of Paraguay. It\u2019s an initiative that all nations have embraced. <\/strong><\/em>
\u201cThe ones that go home won\u2019t like it. The ones that go through will praise it.\u201d<\/strong><\/em>
Below, The Athletic<\/strong><\/em>'s Charlotte Harpur <\/em>and Phil Hay <\/em>analyse all the talking points from Levi's Stadium.
GO FURTHER
Paraguay and Australia play out goalless draw that should see both sides progress to knockouts
Paraguay are used to not having the ball and they are absolutely fine with that. In their past victories over Argentina and Brazil they had less than 30 percent of possession.
Playing in a defensive-minded stubborn 4-4-2, they can frustrate Germany out of possession by shuffling in an organised manner from side-to-side, blocking passing lanes and absorbing pressure in front of their own goal.
When they get the chance, though, they can be very direct and hit Germany\u2019s vulnerable defence by quickly breaking on the counter. Julio Enciso is their usual outlet.
Paraguay will be boosted by the return of Miguel Almiron after his one-game suspension for covering his mouth in a situation of confrontation, but toppling Germany will be a tall order.
Germany showed their frailties by losing 2-1 against Ecuador but any team would fear their reaction following a defeat.
They showed their goalscoring prowess, however, against debutants Curacao, thrashing them 7-1 in their tournament opener.
Whenever Paraguay are officially confirmed to be going through, they will very likely face Group E winner Germany in Foxborough, Massachusetts outside of Boston.
That Round of 32 match will take place on Monday.
As we mentioned earlier, Paraguay have a greater than 99 per cent qualification odds as the only side in these standings on four points who have not yet officially gone through.
The Group L third-placed side will also fancy their chances, as will South Korea in Group A.
Scotland, however, appear done for, despite currently sitting right on the qualification line in the current standings.
The Athletic<\/em><\/strong> gives them the lowest odds of going through, at just 12 per cent.
Australia will play the Group G runners-up in the Round of 32, on July 3 in Dallas.
Right now, The Athletic<\/em><\/strong>\u2019s projected bracket gives that a 60 per cent chance of being Belgium.
Though Egypt and Iran are also in play depending on how that group shakes out tomorrow.
So\u2026 about the first half in Santa Clara.
We won\u2019t ever have to watch it again, and neither will you. Let\u2019s all count our blessings on that front. If ever 45 minutes of football said \u2018a draw will do these two teams fine\u2019, this was it.
Big chances before half-time? Zero. The combined expected goals (xG) figure at the interval? A mighty 0.23 (and it was hanging at 0.14 before Australia had a long-range hit saved in added time).
Paraguay\u2019s individual xG? A creditable 0.05. The \u2018chance\u2019 they had was doing some heavy lifting.
Did it get any sexier after half-time? No. Did we start to see the promise of a break in the deadlock? Also no. Did the game dodge the tag of \u2018worst game of the tournament\u2019? That\u2019s a no.
A point was enough to take Australia and Paraguay through, so why take the risk of going for broke and repenting at leisure? Will the South Americans pay for not being more aggressive?
Finishing third means they\u2019re looking at Germany in the last 32. Australia face a lesser threat in Belgium (devoid of much up front), but it\u2019s a worry for another day.
The nations wanted to progress, and they basically have. Job done.
… not much in the way of goalmouth action, to put it lightly.
A really disappointing expected goals (xG) figure.
Broadly, the figure is used to measure how likely it is that a team's shots will go in, depending on the quality of the chance, where it is taken from, who takes the shot, etc.
A combined xG total of less than one goal shows how little both sides created today. Indeed, it is the lowest xG figure of the entire World Cup.
Australia were the more ambitious side, with 12 shots to seven and five on target to two, plus 56 per cent possession and a 58 per cent field tilt.
They pressed more actively too, only allowing 13.1 passes per defensive action (compared to Paraguay's more conservative 15.3). No goals though.
The Feyenoord wing-back was the most dangerous attacker on the pitch.
Bos bombed up and down the right all night, dovetailing with Cristian Volpato to create most of Australia's best moments, curling one narrowly wide in stoppage time, and still finding the legs to frustrate Julio Enciso at the other end.
Defence and attack in one. On a night nobody covered themselves in glory, he came closest.
Well, both teams got what they wanted.
Tony Popovic, dressed in a black suit, goes to the crowd and pumps his fists.
In their seventh World Cup, Australia have progressed to the knockout stage for the third time in their history.
Paraguay are not officially through yet, but you can see why The Athletic<\/strong><\/em>\u2019s projections give them a greater than 99 per cent chance of getting to the round of 32.
On four points, Gustavo Alfaro\u2019s side can basically start planning for the knockouts.
Three third-place spots have been taken, five are technically up for grabs \u2014 with Paraguay's place in the round of 32 virtually assured after their 0-0 draw with Australia.
Cape Verde, Belgium and Senegal could still shake things up tomorrow (Friday).
As mentioned, the United States finished top of the group with two wins and a loss.
Australia and Paraguay, each with a win, draw and loss from their three group games, finished second and third respectively.
Australia, who had an even head-to-head record with Paraguay after their draw, edged them on goal difference (zero to minus-two).
That sees Tony Popovic's side definitely into the knockout stage, and Paraguay around 99 per cent certain of progressing too.
Turkey are out despite that late victory against the U.S. courtesy of their two losses to begin the tournament.
Let's take a look.
Not only is this Australia\u2019s third time ever qualifying for the knockout rounds, but it\u2019s their second straight tournament doing so.
They reached the Round of 16 in 2022, going out with a 2-1 loss to eventual champions Argentina.
It was a dramatic game of five goals involving the United States and Turkey in the other Group D played at the same time.
Auston Trusty scored early for the USMNT, but Arda Guler equalised shortly after and helped set up Baris Alper Yilmaz's first-half goal.
Sebastian Berhalter levelled just after half-time, before defender Kaan Ayhan scored a dramatic late winner in the 98th minute.
Follow live reaction to this match here<\/a>.
Well, that was an arm-wrestle \u2014 in slow motion. Unlike those watching at home, both sides will happily take it.
Australia were the better side early, slick down the right through the excellent Bos<\/strong> and lively Volpato<\/strong>, forcing a string of routine saves from Gill but never finding the killer touch.
Paraguay came out braver after the break, Mauricio<\/strong> steadying the midfield and Enciso<\/strong> often slipping his marker, but they lacked an edge too.
Spiky, scrappy and light on chances, two sides who knew exactly what they needed figuratively shook on it long before the whistle.
Job done \u2014 no rewatching this one.
It's nearly full time in the other match in this group.
And there's been a late stunner…
Team Stats
PAR
AUS
Game Details<\/p>\n

source<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

World CupFIFA WorldCup 2026AdvertisementAustralia and Paraguay played out a disappointing goalless draw to complete their group stage at the 2026 World Cup in Santa Clara, Calif.The result sees Australia progress to the knockout stage as the second-placed team in Group D, behind the U.S., who lost late against Turkey.Paraguay finish third and are almost certain […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":214971,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-214970","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world","8":"entry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/214970","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=214970"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/214970\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/214971"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=214970"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=214970"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=214970"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}