Australia reach World Cup last 32 with goalless Paraguay draw

Australia advanced to the 2026 World Cup knockout rounds after a 0-0 draw with Paraguay in Santa Clara, California, AFP reported. The result gave the Socceroos second place in Group D and a berth in the last 32.

AFP reported that Australia were not put under sustained pressure at Levi’s Stadium as they secured the point they needed. The match was played Thursday at the San Francisco Bay Area venue in northern California.

The draw capped a group-stage campaign in which Australia beat Turkiye in their opening game before losing to the United States, according to AFP. With four points from those three matches, the Socceroos did enough to move beyond the group phase.

AFP reported that this is only the third time Australia have made it out of the group stage in seven World Cup appearances. The achievement extends their tournament after a tight Group D finish involving the United States, Paraguay, Australia and Turkey.

Paraguay also remained well placed to continue in the competition, AFP reported. The draw left Paraguay on track to qualify as one of the eight best third-placed teams from the group stage.

The United States had already clinched first place in Group D, according to AFP. That remained the case even after a 3-2 loss to Turkey in Los Angeles on Thursday.

Australia’s players celebrated on the field after the final whistle, according to the match report and accompanying Reuters photograph. The result confirmed their place in the next round without the need for a victory in their final group match.

The World Cup’s last-32 stage will include group winners, runners-up and the strongest third-placed teams, as reflected in AFP’s report on Paraguay’s position. Australia’s second-place finish removed any uncertainty over their own qualification.

This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.