Soccer- Australia make six changes for Paraguay World Cup clash


Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group D - Australia v Turkey - BC Place, Vancouver, Canada - June 13, 2026 Australia's Nestory Irankunda celebrates after the match REUTERS/Albert Gea

SANTA CLARA, California, ⁠June 25 (Reuters) - Australia recalled Nestory Irankunda in ⁠one of six changes for Thursday's World ‌Cup Group D match against Paraguay, who are without the suspended Miguel Almiron.

• Both teams are on equal ​points and competing for second ⁠spot in the group, ⁠with the United States already through to the ⁠next ‌round as winners and Turkey eliminated.

• Socceroos coach Tony Tony Popovic shook ⁠up his front line, dropping Mohamed Toure ​and Nishan ‌Velupillay and bringing in Irankunda and Cristian ⁠Volpato.

• Strasbourg's ​Julio Enciso is in the Paraguay attack for his third game of the tournament.

• Australia are ⁠missing both Jacob Italiano and Mathew ​Leckie to injuries.

• Forward Gabriel Avalos comes into the Paraguay side in place of Isidro Pitta, ⁠among three changes by coach Gustavo Alfaro.

Lineups:

Australia: Patrick Beach, Alessandro Circati, Jordan Bos, Connor Metcalfe, Aiden O'Neill, Aziz Behich, Nestory Irankunda, Harry Souttar, ​Cristian Volpato, Jackson Irvine, ⁠Lucas Herrington.

Paraguay: Orlando Gill, Gustavo Velazquez, Omar Alderete, ​Juan Jose Caceres, Diego Gomez, ‌Andres Cubas, Gustavo Gomez, Julio ​Enciso, Gabriel Avalos, Matias Galarza, Alexandro Maidana.

(Reporting by Martin PettyEditing by Toby Davis)

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Others Also Read