Paraguay 0-0 Australia: both edge through at World Cup 2026

Stalemate at Levi's Stadium, and both survive

Paraguay and Australia played out a goalless draw at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, and the World Cup 2026 picture in Group D bent in both their favours. On a clear day with the temperature at a comfortable 18°C, neither side could break the deadlock, yet the final whistle suited both.

Australia controlled the rhythm. The numbers tell that story plainly: 56% possession to Paraguay's 44%, 537 total passes against 426, and 104 attacks to 81. Their expected goals (xG = expected goals, a measure of chance quality) reached 0.55 to Paraguay's 0.24, and they mustered five shots on target compared with two. Goalkeeping kept it level, though — Paraguay's keeper made five saves to Australia's two.

For all that territory, big chances stayed at zero for both teams, and the contest never quite caught fire in front of goal. The result leaves Australia second in Group D on four points with a goal difference of zero, and Paraguay third, also on four points. Both have reached the Round of 32: Australia directly, Paraguay through the best-thirds route, ranked seventh among the third-placed sides and qualifying provisionally.

Who Popovic and Paraguay sent out first

A quiet 90 that swung on five saves

Paraguay made their first move right on half-time, sending on Maurício Magalhães Prado for Alexandro Maidana. Moments into the second half, Australia's Jackson Irvine picked up a yellow card.

The substitutions then came in waves. Australia turned to Ajdin Hrustic for Cristian Volpato just before the hour, and Paraguay introduced Alex Arce for Gabriel Ávalos at 67 minutes. Diego Gómez was booked for Paraguay at 77, and the discipline stayed tight throughout — one yellow each, no reds.

The clock at 84 minutes brought a flurry. Paraguay sent on José Canale for Omar Alderete, while Australia made a double change, with Paul Okon-Engstler replacing the booked Irvine and Tete Yengi coming on for Nestory Irankunda. Deep into stoppage time, Paraguay reshuffled once more, bringing on Diego Gómez for Damián Bobadilla and Junior Alonso for Matías Galarza. The defining image, though, was a goalkeeping one — captured in the highlights as Patrick Beach's save kept the scoreline blank.

Paraguay was the pick — the draw had other ideas

The futbol.so community leaned firmly towards Paraguay, with the consensus scoreline landing on a 2-1 win. That pattern held across regions, too: fans in Colombia, Argentina and Spain all tipped a Paraguay victory, settling on margins from a narrow 1-0 to a 2-0.

The official forecast read the night more accurately. It framed the contest as most likely to end level, and that is exactly how it played out. The 0-0 didn't reward the predicted winner, but it did hand both teams what they ultimately needed — a point apiece and a passage out of Group D.

Video highlights

Patrick Beach Save | Paraguay 0-0 Australia | FIFA World Cup 2026™

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Paraguay 🆚 Australia #FIFAWorldCupOnYT

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Paraguay vs Australia (1-1) | Resumen y goles | Highlights Copa Mundial de la FIFA 2026™

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Alt Cast Highlights: Paraguay v Australia | FIFA World Cup 2026™

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Highlights | Paraguay 0-0 Australia | FIFA World Cup 2026™

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HIGHLIGHTS - Paraguay v Australia | Fierce Battle | FIFA World Cup 2026

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Post-Match Press Conference: Australia's Tony Popovic On 0-0 Draw With Paraguay

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Paraguay Train Before Australia | FIFA World Cup 2026™

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AUSTRALIA QUALIFICATA, il PARAGUAY SPERA | Paraguay-Australia 0-0 | FIFA World Cup | DAZN Highlights

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Résumé : PARAGUAY – AUSTRALIE, Un match CRUCIAL pour la QUALIFICATION ! (J3)

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A goalless draw rarely feels like a triumph, yet for Australia and Paraguay this one carries them onward. Both move into the Round of 32, the Socceroos through their own steam and Paraguay clinging on as one of the best third-placed sides. With other groups still to settle, Paraguay's provisional spot is worth watching closely before the knockout bracket locks in.