World Cup Preview: Group D
Our World Cup preview series continues as we run the rule over Group D, comprising Paraguay, the United States, Turkiye and Australia.
Australia
FIFA Ranking: 27
Current Ligue 1 McDonald's players:
Former RC Lens goalkeeper Mathew Ryan will join Mohamed Touré -- who had spells with both Stade de Reims and Paris FC -- for the Socceroos, but no Australians currently play in Ligue 1 McDonald's
Tournament outlook:
A largely veteran Australia side will have to be at their best to progress from the group stage, but given that only one win is likely needed to advance to the knockout rounds, they could have just enough to reach the Round of 32.
Ligue 1 legend: Robbie Slater - RC Lens
In four seasons with Le Sang et Or, the combative Slater was an ever-present in midfield, helping the club win promotion and making more than a hundred appearances. A Premier League title with Blackburn would follow his departure to England in 1994, before he returned to Australia to finish his playing career.
On a pensé à un but de Robbie Slater avec le @RCLens, ça te va ? 🤝🇦🇺#DropYourFlag | #Ligue1Legends pic.twitter.com/KprGVIrExN
— Ligue 1 McDonald's (@Ligue1) November 29, 2022
Paraguay
FIFA Ranking: 41
Current Ligue 1 McDonald's players:
Julio Enciso's recent injury scare looks to have passed, with the RC Strasbourg attacker likely to return after the first match. Having shaken off fitness issues that dogged him earlier in the season, he became one of the Alsatians' most influential players under Gary O'Neil, and will be just as important to his country. He'll be joined in North America by former Lille defender Junior Alonso and Andrés Cubas, late of Nîmes.
Tournament outlook:
Much of Los Guaraníes' hopes of progress will hinge on Enciso's fitness. Few other players in the squad play in Europe, and none of them are attackers, meaning that their defensive solidity will be vital, something they showed in qualifying by conceding just ten goals in eighteen matches.
Ligue 1 legend: José Luis Chilavert, RC Strasbourg
While some two dozen players from Paraguay have graced the pitches of France over the years, there's little doubt that none captured the imagination like Chilavert, who spent two seasons in Alsace. Most famous for converting the winning penalty in the 2001 Coupe de la Ligue, his flamboyant style and controversial departure made his time in eastern France the stuff of legend.
19 G/A for Julio Enciso with Strasbourg. 🇵🇾💎 pic.twitter.com/BO2BdXjLUm
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) May 13, 2026
Turkiye
FIFA Ranking: 22
Current Ligue 1 McDonald's players:
With Lille's Berke Özer not having been called up, no current Ligue 1 players will feature for Turkiye in the tournament, but former Lille right back Zeki Çelik, now with AS Roma, is likely to be a key player for Bizim Çocuklar.
Tournament outlook:
With a deep and talented group of attacking players led by Kenan Yildiz and Arda Güler, and a solid, veteran defence, Turkiye have been marked out as one of the tournament's dark horses, and will be favored to at least reach the knockout stages. Their clash against the hosts on June 25 looms large as a potential group decider.
Ligue 1 legend: Burak Yilmaz, LOSC
Nicknamed "The King," the veteran striker's excellent first season in Lille resulted in Les Dogues winning the title, making him forever a club legend. While Mevlut Erding spent more than a decade in France and Yusuf Yazici and Çelik both played roles in that title-winning season for Lille, Yilmaz's ferocious play makes him an easy choice here.
Timothy Weah, locked in for Team USA 🇺🇸
📸 @USMNT pic.twitter.com/N1H2YzaeEV— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) March 27, 2026
United States
FIFA Ranking: 17
Current Ligue 1 McDonald's players:
Timothy Weah (Marseille), Folarin Balogun (AS Monaco) and Mark McKenzie (Toulouse FC) are all coming off strong seasons in France's top flight. The first two are nailed-on starters for the hosts, while McKenzie's long throws could be a dangerous weapon off the bench.
Tournament outlook:
Despite key players like Christian Pulisic being out of form and a lack of high-level goalkeeping, the hosts will be eager to reach at least the Round of 16. Much will hinge on Mauricio Pocchettino getting his tactics right -- the former Paris Saint-Germain manager has struggled to achieve consistency in his brief tenure, but the talent is present to make a deep run.
Ligue 1 legend: Alejandro Bedoya, FC Nantes
The strong careers of Balogun and Weah to date will likely mean this section will be rewritten in the future, but for now Bedoya just about shades this, having been one of two American-born players two impress in France in the first decade of the 21st century, the other being Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes, Saint-Étienne). The all-action midfielder scored several vital goals for Les Canaris, and his dogged play made him a firm fan favorite.
