Paraguay 0-0 Australia — World Cup draw sends both into Round of 32

Who and what: Paraguay and Australia met in Matchday 3 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage and played out a 0-0 draw on Thursday night (kick-off 10:00pm ET / 7:00pm PT). Why it matters: the goalless result guaranteed both teams a place in the Round of 32 and brought to life the cautious tactical scenario many expected before the game.

Why it mattered

Before kick-off the fixture carried an unusual dynamic: a draw would see both sides advance, so neither manager was under pressure to chase an all-out win. That context shaped the tactical approach on the night and meant the match outcome had immediate knockout-stage implications for both Paraguay and Australia.

How the game played out

The contest finished 0-0, matching pre-match expectations of a tight, low-event encounter centered on risk management. The World Soccer Talk preview anticipated a cautious opening with both teams prioritising defensive solidity; the final scoreline reflected that strategic calculus. There are no further play-by-play details in the supplied sources, so this report focuses on the confirmed result and its implications rather than individual match events.

Team news and projected lineups

Both countries arrived at the match with notable absences. Paraguay were without winger Miguel Almiron after his red card in the victory over Turkey, while forward Ramon Sosa was listed as a doubt with an ankle issue in the preview. That left creative responsibility on Julio Enciso, who the source described as being in good form. Australia were missing veteran Mathew Leckie because of a hamstring injury, prompting possible changes to their attack.

World Soccer Talk published projected starting XIs ahead of the game (labelled as projections): Paraguay (4-4-2) — Gill; Caceres, G. Gomez, Alderete, Alonso; D. Gomez, Cubas, Bobadilla, Galarza; Enciso, Sanabria. Australia (5-4-1) — Beach; Italiano, Souttar, Circati, Burgess, Bos; Metcalfe, O'Neill, Okon, Irankunda; Toure. These were pre-match projections and not confirmed lineups in the supplied metadata.

Broadcast and how fans could watch

For viewers in the United States the World Soccer Talk preview listed multiple broadcast and streaming options: FS1, Telemundo, Peacock Premium, Fubo, DirecTV Stream, Sling and Hulu + Live TV. The piece also noted Fubo compatibility with Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast and mobile devices, and cited a monthly Fubo subscription price of $14.99 as published in the preview.

Key takeaways

• Final score: Paraguay 0-0 Australia (match_data).
• A draw guaranteed both nations progression to the World Cup Round of 32 (World Soccer Talk preview).
• Kick-off: 10:00pm ET / 7:00pm PT on Thursday, June 25, 2026 (World Soccer Talk and match_data time conversion).
• Major absences noted before the match: Miguel Almirón suspended, Mathew Leckie ruled out injured; Ramon Sosa listed as doubtful (World Soccer Talk).
• Pre-match projected XIs were published by World Soccer Talk but actual confirmed starters were not provided in the supplied metadata.
• US broadcast/streaming options included Fubo, DirecTV Stream, Sling, Peacock Premium, FS1, Telemundo and Hulu + Live TV (World Soccer Talk).

What it means / What happens next

The 0-0 result sent both Paraguay and Australia through to the Round of 32 as set out in the pre-match context. Beyond that shared outcome, the supplied sources do not include details on who each team will face next in the knockout stage or confirmed match schedules for their next fixtures, so readers should look for official tournament scheduling announcements for exact opponents and dates.