NEED TO KNOW
- Tomorrow, on June 26, the Socceroos will face Paraguay at 12:00pm AEST.
- The game will be broadcast live and free across SBS and SBS On Demand, with full replays, highlights and mini-matches also available to stream on demand.
- The Socceroos opened their World Cup campaign with a 2–0 win over Türkiye before losing 2–0 to the USA in their second match.
- Australia heads into the match as the favourite against Paraguay. Although both teams sit on three points in Group D, the Socceroos are ranked 14 places higher in the FIFA World Rankings.
Football fans, this is your time!
The 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup is officially underway. Hosted across the United States, Mexico and Canada, this year’s tournament is the largest in FIFA history, with a record 48 nations vying for football’s most coveted prize: the iconic 18-carat gold trophy.
For Australians, that means the next few weeks may well be dictated by fixture lists, alarm clocks and the eternal question of whether staying awake until 4am is an act of devotion or self-sabotage.
Even if football isn’t usually your sport of choice, the World Cup has a way of pulling everyone in (remember the collective fever dream that was Matildas mania in 2023). Every four years, it becomes a global spectacle of hope, heartbreak and national pride, producing breakout stars, unforgettable moments and the kind of collective euphoria that sends entire cities spilling onto the streets in celebration.
Last Sunday, the Socceroos gave even the most casual sports fans a reason to tune in, defeating Turkey 2-0.
Teenage star Nestory Irankunda opened the scoring in the 27th minute before Connor Metcalfe put the result beyond doubt late in the match, prompting jubilant scenes among fans across the country.
For Australia, this year’s campaign marks the Socceroos’ sixth consecutive World Cup appearance. Drawn into Group D alongside Türkiye, Paraguay and host nation the United States, Tony Popovic’s squad arrives with a blend of experienced leaders and emerging talent, hoping to surpass their memorable Round of 16 finish in Qatar back in 2022.
Whether you’re planning to watch every minute or only tuning in when the Socceroos take to the pitch, here’s exactly where to catch the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Australia.
Where To Watch The 2026 FIFA World Cup In Australia
Thankfully, watching the World Cup this year doesn’t require another streaming subscription. In Australia, all 104 matches will be broadcast live and free across SBS and SBS On Demand, with full replays, highlights and mini-matches also available to stream on demand.
Tomorrow, on June 26, the Socceroos will face Paraguay at 12:00pm AEST.
Prefer to watch with a crowd? Pubs nationwide are expected to screen the games, while public watch parties will take over Melbourne’s Federation Square, Sydney’s Tumbalong Park and Brisbane’s South Bank Cultural Forecourt.
When Are The Australian Socceroos Playing In The 2026 World Cup
Australia opened its World Cup campaign in celebration, defeating Türkiye 2-0 on June 14. For their second game against team USA, they lost 0-2. The Socceroos will now face Paraguay on June 26 at 12pm AEST.
Should Australia progress beyond the group stage, the path forward becomes a little less straightforward. The top two teams from each group automatically advance to the Round of 32, while the tournament’s eight best-performing third-placed teams also secure knockout berths. Depending on where the Socceroos finish in Group D, their first knockout match could kick off anywhere between 4am and 10am AEST.
All Group Stage Matches:
| Match | Date | Time (AEST) |
|---|---|---|
| Australia vs Türkiye | 14 June | 2pm |
| USA vs Australia | 20 June | 5am |
| Paraguay vs Australia | 26 June | 12pm |
Current Group Stage Standings
For the most up-to-date standings, the official FIFA website is updated live during matches and is subject to change while games are in progress.
| Group | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Mexico (6 pts, +3 Goal Difference) | South Korea (3 pts, 0 Goal Difference) | Czechia (1 pt, -1 Goal Difference) | South Africa (1 pt, -2 Goal Difference) |
| B | Switzerland (7 pts, +4 Goal Difference) | Canada (4 pts, +5 Goal Difference) | Bosnia and Herzegovina (4 pts, -1 Goal Difference) | Qatar (1 pt, -8 Goal Difference) |
| C | Brazil (4 pts, +3 Goal Difference) | Morocco (4 pts, +1 Goal Difference) | Scotland (3 pts, 0 Goal Difference) | Haiti (0 pts, -4 Goal Difference) |
| D | USA (6 pts, +5 Goal Difference) | Australia (3 pts, 0 Goal Difference) | Paraguay (3 pts, -2 Goal Difference) | Türkiye (0 pts, -3 Goal Difference) |
| E | Germany (6 pts, +7 Goal Difference) | Côte d’Ivoire (3 pts, 0 Goal Difference) | Ecuador (1 pt, -1 Goal Difference) | Curaçao (1 pt, -6 Goal Difference) |
| F | Netherlands (4 pts, +4 Goal Difference) | Japan (4 pts, +4 Goal Difference) | Sweden (3 pts, 0 Goal Difference) | Tunisia (0 pts, -8 Goal Difference) |
| G | Egypt (4 pts, +2 Goal Difference) | Iran (2 pts, 0 Goal Difference) | Belgium (2 pts, 0 Goal Difference) | New Zealand (1 pt, -2 Goal Difference) |
| H | Spain (4 pts, +4 Goal Difference) | Uruguay (2 pts, 0 Goal Difference) | Cabo Verde (2 pts, 0 Goal Difference) | Saudi Arabia (1 pt, -4 Goal Difference) |
| I | France (6 pts, +5 Goal Difference) | Norway (6 pts, +4 Goal Difference) | Senegal (0 pts, -3 Goal Difference) | Iraq (0 pts, -6 Goal Difference) |
| J | Argentina (6 pts, +5 Goal Difference) | Austria (3 pts, 0 Goal Difference) | Algeria (3 pts, -2 Goal Difference) | Jordan (0 pts, -3 Goal Difference) |
| K | Colombia (6 pts, +3 Goal Difference) | Portugal (4 pts, +5 Goal Difference) | DR Congo (1 pt, -1 Goal Difference) | Uzbekistan (0 pts, -7 Goal Difference) |
| L | England (4 pts, +2 Goal Difference) | Ghana (3 pts, +1 Goal Difference) | Croatia (3 pts, -1 Goal Difference) | Panama (0 pts, -2 Goal Difference) |
Who’s Playing For The Socceroos In The 2026 World Cup?
The 26-man Socceroos squad is a mix of experienced campaigners and exciting new faces. From four-time World Cup veterans Mat Ryan and Mathew Leckie to teenage bolter Lucas Herrington and newly minted Australian Cristian Volpato, here’s everyone selected for Australia’s 2026 World Cup campaign.
| Position | Players | Players To Know |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Mat Ryan (C), Paul Izzo, Patrick Beach | Captain Mat Ryan is heading to a record-equalling fourth World Cup. |
| Defenders | Aziz Behich, Jordy Bos, Alessandro Circati, Cameron Burgess, Harry Souttar, Lucas Herrington, Miloš Degenek, Kai Trewin, Jacob Italiano, Jason Geria | Lucas Herrington, 18, is the squad’s youngest member and one of its breakout stories. |
| Midfielders | Jackson Irvine, Aiden O’Neill, Ajdin Hrustić, Connor Metcalfe, Paul Okon-Engstler, Cammy Devlin, Mathew Leckie, Awer Mabil, Cristian Volpato | Mathew Leckie joins Ryan as a four-time World Cup veteran, while Cristian Volpato switched allegiance from Italy just days before the squad announcement. |
| Forwards | Nestory Irankunda, Nishan Velupillay, Mohamed Touré, Tete Yengi | Nestory Irankunda is one of Australia’s most exciting young attacking talents and a player tipped for a breakout tournament. |
