Group D of the World Cup 2026 sees co-hosts the USA drawn alongside Turkey, Paraguay and Australia – and it’s the USA and Turkey who are the strongest sides on paper.
Both will fancy their chances of topping the group, and LiveScore Bet are currently offering odds of 7/2* on Turkey to win Group D with the USA finishing as runners-up.
Turkey are back at the World Cup after 24 years away, and while a repeat of their remarkable run to the semi-finals in 2002 would come as a surprise, they enter the tournament with their best crop of players for some time.
Managed by former Italy international Vincenzo Montella, Turkey qualified through the play-offs having finished as runners-up to reigning European champions Spain in their group. Indeed, the Turks drew their final qualifier 2-2 in Spain, with their 6-0 home defeat to La Roja something of a blip.
Currently 22nd in the FIFA World Ranking, Turkey will pin their hopes of a successful World Cup campaign on the likes of Real Madrid and Juventus wingers Arda Guler and Kenan Yildiz, Fenerbahce striker Kerem Akturkoglu – scorer of the winning goal in their play-off victory over Kosovo – and veteran captain Hakan Calhanoglu of Inter.
As for the USA, their star men include midfielders Weston McKennie (Juventus) and Tyler Adams (Bournemouth), and forwards Cristian Pulisic (Milan) and Folarin Balogun (Monaco). They’re aiming to make it out of the group for the fourth time in as many World Cup appearances, previously winning their group ahead of England in 2010.
The States head into their home World Cup coached by Mauricio Pochettino, a man with an abundance of big-game experience from his time in charge of Tottenham and PSG, and beat Africa Cup of Nations finalists Senegal in their most recent friendly.
With Turkey beginning their campaign against Australia then taking on Paraguay, and the USA doing vice versa, it could all come down to when these two sides go head-to-head in their final group match.
Back Turkey to finish first and the USA to finish second in Group D at 7/2* with LiveScore Bet
*Odds correct as of 1/6/26
