World Cup guide: everything you need to know about group D
· Yahoo Sports
The FIFA World Cup is just around the corner! With the countdown inching ever closer to zero, Playmaker is stepping up to present the 48 participating teams across 12 articles - one for each group in the competition. From likely starting XIs to the key players to watch, we've got everything you need to know ahead of the biggest competition in world football.
Group D may not be the star-studded group at the World Cup, but it is certainly one of the hardest to predict. None of the four teams are among the main contenders for the title, yet all arrive on the continent believing that reaching the last 16 is an achievable target – with varying degrees of difficulty.
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The North American hosts carry the pressure of a project that has been built over years with this tournament in mind. Turkey returns to the World Cup for the first time since 2002 and brings a generation that is thrilling the fervent Crescent Stars supporters. Paraguay has re-emerged on the big stage thanks to Gustavo Alfaro's work and the recovery of a competitive identity that seemed lost. Australia, meanwhile, continues to make a point of showing up at major tournaments and dreams of a historic run.
With four continents represented and very different styles on show, Group D promises an intense battle right through to the final round. And if there is one easy conclusion to draw, it is this: no one would be surprised by any combination of teams going through.
United States
Number of appearances: 11
Best result: third place (1930)
For years, US football has been pointing towards the summer of 2026. The generation of Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams and Timothy Weah grew up with this World Cup on the horizon and is finally reaching the moment for which it was prepared.
The growth of the sport in the country is clear. MLS has become more competitive, players are moving to Europe earlier, and the national team now has a depth it rarely possessed in the past. Even so, talent has never been enough to remove all the doubts. The United States still seeks a truly defining run at a 'modern' World Cup - their best ever finish came... at the very first edition.
The appointment of Mauricio Pochettino was another sign of the ambition involved. The Argentine coach has been tasked with turning potential into results and knows that few hosts will enter the pitch under as much pressure as this team. Playing at home is an advantage, but it also brings responsibilities.
The head coach - Mauricio Pochettino
After spells at Espanyol, Southampton, Tottenham, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea, Mauricio Pochettino took on the challenge of leading the United States. The aim is simple to explain and difficult to achieve: take the US further than most expect. His experience in high-pressure environments was one of the reasons for his appointment. Even so, preparations for the World Cup have not always been smooth, and questions remain about the team’s identity and the ideal system. Pochettino is still searching for the best balance, but Americans believe they have the right coach on the bench to face the tournament’s decisive moments.
The star - Christian Pulisic
He remains the face of US football. Captain, leader and one of the most recognisable figures in the squad, Pulisic arrives at the World Cup in a mature phase of his career and with the responsibility of guiding the team through its toughest moments. In a group full of players competing in Europe’s top leagues, he is still the one most likely to find solutions when matches become complicated. Capable of beating a defender one-on-one, creating space where none seems to exist and deciding games with a moment of quality, he naturally carries huge pressure. He is the symbol of this generation and few players will have as much weight on their national team’s ambitions.
One to watch - Malik Tillman
Malik Tillman’s rise has been one of the best pieces of news for the United States. The attacking midfielder adds creativity and unpredictability to a team that sometimes relies too heavily on its more familiar names. Born and developed in Germany, he chose to represent the United States after a long period of reflection and has become one of the squad’s emerging figures. His recent breakthrough at the highest level and his ability to create chances between the lines have made him an increasingly important player. Quiet off the pitch, he is defined by the opposite when the ball reaches his feet.
Other key players: Weston McKennie (Juventus), Tyler Adams (Bournemouth), Sergiño Dest (PSV), Folarin Balogun (Monaco), Ricardo Pepi (PSV) and Timothy Weah (Marseille)
Paraguay
Number of appearances:eight
Best result: quarter-finals (2010)
For a long time, talking about Paraguay meant talking about the memories of 2010. The quarter-finals in South Africa, when the likes of Oscar Cardozo and Roque Santa Cruz were still there, remained the last great memory of a team that spent more than a decade away from the World Cup and unable to find a clear direction.
That changed with Gustavo Alfaro. The Argentine coach restored confidence to a group that seemed destined for international irrelevance and built one of the most impressive recoveries in South American qualifying. Paraguay became competitive again, difficult to beat again, and once again believed.
It may not have the individual flair of some other teams from the same continent, but it remains an extremely awkward side to face. Organised, intense and comfortable in tight matches, it arrives at this World Cup with enough arguments to fight for qualification until the very end.
The head coach - Gustavo Alfaro
Few coaches have had such an immediate impact on a South American national team in recent years. Gustavo Alfaro took over a side lacking confidence, restored its identity and led it to its first World Cup since 2010. The Argentine coach rebuilt the team around what he calls the 'Paraguayan DNA': intensity, aggression, competitiveness and defensive solidity. Paraguay scored fewer goals than most of its rivals in South American qualifying, but made up for it with organisation and the ability to survive in close games. Twelve years later, the country believes again – holiday celebrations and all.
The star - Gustavo Gómez
Captain, leader and the team’s absolute reference point. Palmeiras centre-back Gustavo Gómez has been one of the most respected players in South American football for several years and perfectly embodies this team’s competitive spirit. His emotional connection to the colours he represents helps explain his importance. After winning the Copa Libertadores with Palmeiras, Gómez even admitted he would trade every trophy in his career for a World Cup appearance with Paraguay. Strong in the air, aggressive in duels and a constant voice on the pitch, he is the symbol of a team that has found its way again.
One to watch - Julio Enciso
The most exciting attacking talent in Paraguayan football. Still young, but already experienced at the highest level, Enciso can offer something this side has not always had in abundance: creativity and unpredictability around the opposition box. His story goes a long way to explaining why he is so loved by supporters. He made his top-flight debut in Paraguay at just 15, earned his first call-up at 17 and promised his grandfather that one day he would play at a World Cup. His grandfather never got to see him fulfil that promise, but Enciso now carries that memory to the United States. After spells at Brighton and a spell of progress at Strasbourg, he arrives at the tournament as the team’s main attacking hope.
Other key players: Miguel Almirón (Atlanta United), Diego Gómez (Brighton), Omar Alderete (Sunderland), Andrés Cubas (Vancouver Whitecaps) and Ramón Sosa (Palmeiras).
Australia
Number of appearances: six
Best result:last 16 (2006 and 2022)
Since 2006, Australia has missed only one World Cup. Along the way it changed confederation, renewed its generations and lost some of the biggest names in its history, but it has kept a rare trait: it is almost never as weak on paper as it first appears.
The Socceroos have built a reputation based on collective discipline and the ability to compete against theoretically superior opponents. In 2022 they reached the last 16 and forced eventual champions Argentina to suffer until the final minutes to go through.
The current generation may not have a Tim Cahill, but it still knows its strengths and sells defeat dearly. And in a tournament like this, that usually counts for more than the usual talk of favourites.
The head coach - Tony Popovic
A former Australia international, Tony Popovic took charge during the qualifying campaign and became the first Australian to play at a World Cup as both player and coach. His teams usually reflect what he was like as a player: organisation, intensity and competitiveness. His arrival on the touchline also brought some visible changes. Australia has become harder to beat and has rediscovered the consistency that so often allowed it to exceed expectations in major tournaments. Popovic is trying to shake off the image of permanent outsider, but he knows many of the team’s chances will still depend on its ability to compete better than its opponents.
The star - Jackson Irvine
Captain and one of the squad’s key figures. The St. Pauli midfielder is the team’s engine on the pitch and one of its most influential voices off it, playing a central role in Australia’s identity. His career explains the maturity with which he leads the national team. Developed in Melbourne, he moved through several levels of British football before establishing himself in Germany, where he became captain of St. Pauli and a key figure in the club’s rise to the Bundesliga. Tactically intelligent, tireless out of possession and respected by team-mates, Irvine is the player who best represents this Australian side’s personality.
One to watch - Nestory Irankunda
Probably the most exciting player in Australia’s new generation. Fast, unpredictable and capable of creating problems from almost any situation, he could use this World Cup to announce himself properly to the wider public. Expectations around the winger have followed him since adolescence, when he began standing out for Adelaide United at just 15. The move to Bayern Munich and the later switch to Watford helped speed up his development. Blessed with explosive acceleration and a natural eye for goal, Irankunda could be Australia’s main weapon in transition.
Other key players:Mathew Ryan (Levante), Harry Souttar (Leicester City), Connor Metcalfe (St. Pauli) and Cameron Burgess (Swansea City)
Turkey
Number of appearances: two
Best result:third place (2002)
Talent has never been Turkey’s problem. Over the past two decades, several generations capable of exciting supporters have emerged, but few have managed to turn that potential into truly consistent campaigns. Returning to the World Cup, 24 years later, is another chance to change that narrative.
The raw material is impressive. Arda Güler and Kenan Yildiz lead a new wave of talent, Hakan Çalhanoğlu remains a benchmark in European football, and names such as Orkun Kökçü and Kerem Aktürkoğlu add quality and experience to the group.
The big question is stability. Historically, Turkey has alternated brilliant moments with periods that are hard to explain. Vincenzo Montella seems to have found some balance, which helps justify their status as a slight favourite in such an open group.
The head coach - Vincenzo Montella
After a successful playing career, Vincenzo Montella found in Turkey one of the most interesting projects of his coaching journey. The Italian has managed to make the team more balanced without reducing the prominence of the attacking talent that sets it apart. His greatest merit has probably been creating stability in a side that, for many years, alternated between huge excitement and disappointment. Montella has built a united group, nurtured the new generation and restored Turkey’s sense that it can compete with any opponent. Twenty-four years later, the country returns to the World Cup with real reasons to believe.
The star - Arda Güler
It is impossible to talk about Turkey without starting with Arda Güler. At 21, the Real Madrid creator is already the team’s main symbol and one of the most exciting players at the tournament. The talent is obvious; now the question is how far he can take the team. His influence on Turkey’s play is greater than many realise. During qualifying, he was involved in almost half of the goals scored by the national team in the matches he played, and he arrives at the World Cup after establishing himself at one of the biggest clubs in the world. Few players in Group D carry as much expectation as he does.
One to watch - Kenan Yildiz
Less high-profile than Arda, but equally promising. The forward stands out for his mobility, versatility and ability to decide matches. In a tournament like this, he has all the ingredients to become one of the most talked-about names in the group stage. The season leading up to the World Cup helped reinforce that view. Blessed with a rare blend of physical power, pace and technical quality, Yildiz arrives in the United States in one of the best moments of his career. Born in Germany and a Turkey international from a very young age, he is seen by many as one of the greatest talents in European and world football. If he proves that here, Turkey will have a major weapon in the fight for qualification.
Other key players:Hakan Çalhanoglu (Inter), Orkun Kökcu (Besiktas), Kerem Aktürkoğlu (Fenerbahçe), Merih Demiral (Al-Ahli) and Ferdi Kadioglu (Brighton)