Tony Popovic named the Socceroos’ 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on 1 June 2026 (AEST), and Australia went on to reach the Round of 32 before going out to Egypt on penalties.
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The 2026 FIFA World Cup was the biggest sporting event on the planet and the first to feature 48 teams. Hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico from 11 June to 19 July 2026, it ran to 104 matches across 16 venues in three countries.
For Australian fans, this is a special tournament. The Socceroos were drawn in Group D with the host nation USA, Paraguay and Türkiye, finished second to reach the Round of 32, then went out to Egypt on penalties. The good news for Australian fans: because the tournament was in North America, most matches fell in Australian daytime, with around 68% of the 104 games kicking off between 6am and 4:30pm AEST. See our Socceroos World Cup squad guide for the 26 who went.
BettingPro covered every game of the tournament with free tips, predictions and match previews. Every group preview, Socceroos match report and the final itself are linked further down this page.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup ran from 11 June to 19 July 2026, spanning 39 days and 104 matches across 16 venues in three countries.
| Stage | Dates | Matches | AEST Note |
| Group Stage | 11 to 27 June | 48 matches | Most kickoffs 4am–10am AEST |
| Round of 32 | 28 June to 3 July | 16 matches | Early morning AEST |
| Round of 16 | 5 to 8 July | 8 matches | Early morning AEST |
| Quarter-finals | 9 to 12 July | 4 matches | Early morning AEST |
| Semi-finals | 15 and 16 July | 2 matches | Early morning AEST |
| Third-place playoff | 18 July | 1 match | Early morning AEST |
| Final | 19 July | 1 match | MetLife Stadium, New Jersey |
The tournament opened at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on 11 June and finished at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on 19 July, where Spain beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time. For Australian viewers most matches kicked off between 4am and 10am AEST, which made it a tournament of early alarms and long breakfasts.
The World Cup 2026 draw took place on 5 December 2025 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. The 48 teams were drawn into 12 groups of four. The top two from each group plus the eight best third-placed teams advanced to the Round of 32.
| Group | Team 1 | Team 2 | Team 3 | Team 4 |
| A | Mexico | South Korea | South Africa | Czechia |
| B | Canada | Switzerland | Qatar | Bosnia-Herzegovina |
| C | Brazil | Morocco | Haiti | Scotland |
| D | United States | Paraguay | Australia | Türkiye |
| E | Germany | Ivory Coast | Ecuador | Curaçao |
| F | Netherlands | Sweden | Japan | Tunisia |
| G | Belgium | Egypt | Iran | New Zealand |
| H | Spain | Cape Verde | Saudi Arabia | Uruguay |
| I | France | Senegal | Iraq | Norway |
| J | Argentina | Algeria | Austria | Jordan |
| K | Portugal | DR Congo | Colombia | Uzbekistan |
| L | England | Croatia | Ghana | Panama |
The Socceroos reached their seventh FIFA World Cup, and their sixth in a row, and were drawn in Group D alongside the United States (host nation), Paraguay (CONMEBOL 3rd seed) and Türkiye (UEFA play-off winner). It was one of the more brutal group draws Australia has ever received, with all three opponents ranked inside the world’s top 35. Head coach Tony Popovic, appointed in September 2024, made Harry Souttar captain for every match, with Patrick Beach starting in goal ahead of the named captain Mat Ryan. See the full Socceroos World Cup squad.
Australia finished second in Group D: a 2-0 win over Türkiye, a 2-0 defeat by the host nation USA and a 0-0 draw with Paraguay. That was enough for the Round of 32, where Egypt won 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw. Match-by-match analysis, path-mapping and the key player markets are in our Socceroos Group D Deep Dive.
| Matchday | Date | Match | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MD1 | Sat 13 June 2026 | 🇦🇺 Australia v 🇹🇷 Türkiye | Vancouver, Canada | Australia won 2-0 |
| MD2 | Fri 19 June 2026 | 🇦🇺 Australia v 🇺🇸 USA | Seattle, USA | USA won 2-0 |
| MD3 | Thu 25 June 2026 | 🇦🇺 Australia v 🇵🇾 Paraguay | Santa Clara, USA (SF Bay Area) | 0-0 draw |
All three group matches fell in the 4am to 10am AEST window. Socceroos matches were live free-to-air on SBS and on Optus Sport, which carried every match of the tournament.
Spain won it, beating Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the final at MetLife Stadium through a Ferran Torres goal in the 106th minute. England took third place with a 6-4 win over France in the bronze final.
The expanded 48-team format added a Round of 32 and 40 extra matches, and the traditional powerhouses still filled the closing rounds.
Spain (champions): Came through Group H with Uruguay, Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde, then won the final 1-0 after extra time. Rodri took the Golden Ball and Unai Simón the Golden Glove.
Argentina (runners-up): The 2022 winners went all the way again and lost the final to a 106th-minute goal. Lionel Messi took the Silver Ball and the Silver Boot with eight goals.
England (third): Came out of Group L with Croatia, Ghana and Panama and won a remarkable bronze final 6-4, Bukayo Saka scoring a hat-trick.
France (fourth): Beaten in the bronze final, but Kylian Mbappé finished as the tournament’s top scorer and took his second Golden Boot.
Outright markets for the next World Cup open years in advance. Compare prices across Picklebet, Dabble, Neds, Ladbrokes and bet365.
The 2026 World Cup was spread across 16 cities in three countries, making it the largest FIFA World Cup ever staged. Here are all 16 venues:
| City | Country | Stadium | Capacity |
| New York/New Jersey | USA | MetLife Stadium (Final) | 82,500 |
| Los Angeles | USA | SoFi Stadium | 70,240 |
| Dallas | USA | AT&T Stadium | 80,000 |
| Houston | USA | NRG Stadium | 72,220 |
| Atlanta | USA | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | 71,000 |
| Miami | USA | Hard Rock Stadium | 65,326 |
| Philadelphia | USA | Lincoln Financial Field | 69,176 |
| Seattle | USA | Lumen Field | 68,740 |
| San Francisco | USA | Levi’s Stadium | 68,500 |
| Kansas City | USA | Arrowhead Stadium | 76,416 |
| Boston | USA | Gillette Stadium | 65,878 |
| Mexico City | Mexico | Estadio Azteca (Opener) | 87,523 |
| Guadalajara | Mexico | Estadio Akron | 49,850 |
| Monterrey | Mexico | Estadio BBVA | 53,500 |
| Toronto | Canada | BMO Field | 45,736 |
| Vancouver | Canada | BC Place | 54,500 |
World Cup betting offers a massive range of markets across Australian bookmakers. From outright tournament winner to individual match props, here are the most popular World Cup betting markets:
Tournament Winner: Back a nation to lift the trophy. Outright prices open years out and move on qualifying results, squad news and the draw, so early value matters more here than in any match market.
Group Winner: Predict which team will finish top of each group. A great early-tournament market with 12 groups to bet on.
Match Winner (Head-to-Head): The simplest World Cup bet. Pick the winner of any individual match, including the draw option in group stage games.
First Goalscorer / Anytime Goalscorer: Back a player to score first or at any point during a match. The Golden Boot race adds an extra layer to this market.
Golden Boot: Bet on the tournament’s top scorer. With 104 matches in the expanded format the winning tally runs high: Kylian Mbappé took the 2026 award.
Same Game Multi (SGM): Combine multiple selections from the same World Cup match into one bet. For example, combine France to win, Mbappé to score, and over 2.5 total goals in a single bet with multiplied odds. Check our same game multi tips for our SGM picks.
Correct Score: Predict the exact final score of a match. Higher odds but bigger payouts.
All the major Australian bookmakers cover World Cup betting in depth. Our top picks:
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18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
#AD 18+ T&Cs Apply Imagine what you could be buying instead. For free & confidential support call 180 0858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
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Compare bookmakers on our soccer betting sites guide or compare all options on our best betting sites in Australia guide.
Our complete World Cup 2026 betting coverage cluster:
Full preview for every group at the 2026 World Cup, with outright tips, predicted finish and best bets:
We ran daily match tips here throughout the tournament. The 2026 World Cup was played from 11 June to 19 July 2026, opening at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City and finishing at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
When was the 2026 World Cup?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup was played from 11 June to 19 July 2026. The opening match was at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City and the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Where was the 2026 World Cup held?
The 2026 World Cup was hosted across three countries: the United States (11 cities), Mexico (3 cities) and Canada (2 cities). It was the first tri-hosted World Cup in history.
How did the Socceroos go at World Cup 2026?
Australia qualified through the AFC pathway, finished second in Group D behind the host nation USA, and went out to Egypt on penalties in the Round of 32.
How many teams were in the 2026 World Cup?
The 2026 World Cup featured 48 teams, expanded from 32 in previous tournaments. Teams are drawn into 12 groups of four, with the top two from each group and the eight best third-placed teams advancing to a Round of 32.
What are the best World Cup betting markets?
The most popular World Cup betting markets include tournament winner, group winner, match winner, first goalscorer, Golden Boot, same game multis, and correct score. All major Australian bookmakers offer comprehensive World Cup markets.
What time did World Cup 2026 matches start in Australia?
With the tournament hosted in North America, most World Cup 2026 matches kicked off between roughly 4am and 10am AEST, and around 68% of the 104 games fell between 6am and 4:30pm AEST.
Who won the 2026 World Cup?
Spain. They beat Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the final at MetLife Stadium, Ferran Torres scoring in the 106th minute. England finished third and France fourth.
Can I bet on the World Cup in Australia?
Yes. All licensed Australian bookmakers offer World Cup betting markets. We recommend Picklebet, Dabble, Neds, Ladbrokes and bet365 for the best World Cup odds and markets.
For all our soccer tips including A-League and EPL, visit our soccer tips hub. For same game multi tips, check our SGM tips page.
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