The hosts finished first with a loss to the eliminated Turks, while the Australians secured their second place with a slim draw against the Paraguayans
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Half of the groups in the first phase of the 2026 World Cup have been completed, and most of the matchups for the Round of 16 are starting to take shape. The group that closed the day of definitions was the Group E, where the United States, despite losing to the eliminatedTurkey, finished first, followed by Australia, which drew with third-placed Paraguay.
Paraguay 0-0 Australia
The start of the most important match of the group began with a dominant Australia, controlling possession and having the first dangerous chances, including a shot from Jackson Irvine that goalkeeper Orlando Gill sent to the corner. This rhythm would continue throughout an initial half where there would be no significant incidents to highlight beyond a shot from Cristian Volpato saved by the Paraguayan goalkeeper towards the end.
Although the break could have encouraged Paraguay a bit more, especially given the need to win to advance second, the reality would remain the same as seen up to that point: an oceanic team that, while not intimidating, would constantly pressure them and not allow them to create opportunities.
Only in the final stretch of the match would the Paraguayans remember that they needed to win, but, in addition to not having the last promising chance (a shot from Bos that went close to the left post of Gil), they would not have time to do anything.
In the other match, the United States struck early. In the 2nd minute, from a corner, Sebastian Berhalter sent a pinpoint ball to the foot of an unmarked Auston Trusty, who, after controlling it with one touch, would finish easily to make it 1-0.
Despite the early blow, minutes later Turkey would respond quickly with the equalizer on their first chance: after a great combination of passes that he initiated, Arda Güller would receive a good assist from Baris Yilmaz in the area and would win the duel against goalkeeperMatt Turner.
After this frantic start, the match would enter a tense calm that would last until shortly after the cooling break, when, after a series of rebounds in the area, Mark McKenzie would put the 2-1 for the Americans, although his goal would be disallowed for offside by Ricardo Pepi. The second goal would come moments later from the European team through a great collective play, authored by Orkun Kökçü.
Although they would come close to equalizing again, the hosts would go into halftime with their hopes unfulfilled, which would be satisfied right at the start of the second half. In the 48th minute, after a Turkish defensive clearance, the ball would fall to Berhalter, who with a powerful low shot to the near post of Uğurcan Çakır would make it 2-2.
After the conversion, the team led by Mauricio Pochettino would continue attacking in search of regaining the lead, but to no avail. To their misfortune, the second cooling break allowed their opponent to reorganize in the game and generate their own chances, such as a curling shot from Kenan Yildiz in the 70th minute that would go close to Turner's goal.
When it seemed that everything would end in a draw, in a last play of the match involving three substitutes, Turkey would secure the victory: after a good sequence of passes, Can Uzun would cross the ball to Alex Freeman, and Kaan Ayhan would push the ball into the back of the net.
With these results, the United States finished first with 7 points and will face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 16 next Wednesday, July 1 at Levi's Stadium in San Francisco. Meanwhile, Australia finished second with 4 points and will face the second from Group G (currently Iran) next Friday, July 3 at AT&T Stadium in Texas.
Further down, despite tying on points (4), Paraguay finished third due to goal difference (0 to -2) and will have to wait for the definition of the other groups to know their possible opponent and where and when they would play, although they already know that they will definitely play against a first-place team from Group E (Germany), I (currently France), K (currently Colombia).
Finally, although they won their last match, Turkey ended their disappointing World Cup at the bottom of the table with 3 points, a performance far from what was seen in Korea-Japan 2002, where they finished third.
