FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D features co-hosts United States facing Turkey, Australia and Paraguay in what both outlets describe as an open and evenly matched pool. The United States, led by Mauricio Pochettino for the tournament, start their campaign against Turkey before also taking on Australia and Paraguay, with the overall group expected to be competitive rather than one-sided. The Independent and IOL both frame the group as closely balanced, suggesting that multiple teams have realistic chances to advance rather than a clear favorite. The preview format in both articles centers on the matchups and the setup for the summer tournament, highlighting that the United States will have to navigate three different opponents across the group stage. Overall, the coverage focuses on the draw and the composition of Group D, presenting it as a wide-open situation for the co-hosts and their three group rivals.