This Group D Paraguay vs Australia match will sort out second place in the group after the US have beaten both of these sides, although both teams will probably make it through no matter the result here anyway. Both teams share the honour of beating Turkey, and Australia have the upper hand of looking slightly better against the USA in their game than Paraguay A draw looks likely here with both sides low in the stats for shots, shots on target, touches. The only thing most Australians will ask, is if they can send out their second half team to start. It should be a big day down under with a premium kick off at 12pm an unheard-of time slot of convenience for Australian football fans. 

Paraguay vs Australia Preview

STATS SUMMARY

RATINGS

The Gurgler’s in-house Ratings system chooses the winner. Using H2H history, World Cup performance history, World Cup qualifying, the last four years of international games, performance against the confederation, and current effort at this World Cup.

A close one then for Paraguay and Australia, where a draw will probably suit anyway.

BARELY INTERESTING STATS

Paraguay have never beaten Australia D3 L2. All games have been in Australia.

Australia are winless v South American nations at the World Cup, drawing their first game in 1974 and losing the subsequent four games by a combined 2-9.

Paraguay are W1 D1 v Asian nations at the World Cup.

Going back to 2016, and including the games against the United States in this World Cup, Paraguay have lost 13 of their last 16 in any of the current host nations.

Paraguay are averaging 1.5 Shots on Target per game at this World Cup. Australia are double that. Paraguay’s 18% Shots on Target v Shots figure is in the bottom five.

Paraguay and Australia are both in the bottom 6 for passes per game. Similar for Touches. So it’s a chance of being a game where no one wants the ball.

MATCH PREDICTION

Paraguay 1 Australia 1

AI MATCH PREDICTION

Since AI is all the rage, and a management buzzword of the highest order, we have decided to dip a few toes into AI pond.

We asked AI to come up with a winner and score based on the following:

• 2026 FIFA World Cup form so far,
• last four years on international matches,
• overall FIFA World Cup history,
• value of the playing squad,
• relative strength of each team’s mascot,
• military success of country over the past 100 years,
• popularity and sales of each teams playing shirt,
• strength of fan noise,
• beer consumption.

AI MATCH RESULT AND WHY

Here’s what our AI friend had to say……

Paraguay 1 Australia 1