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Australia and Paraguay are set to clash this evening in their final Group D encounter at the 2026 World Cup.

Both teams suffered heavy defeats at the hands of the United States Men's National Team but managed to secure important wins against Turkey, leaving the fight for second place wide open.

With the USA already confirmed as group leaders, attention now turns to which side will claim the remaining spot — and who will oversee the match.

The fixture between Australia and Paraguay will kick off at 3am British Summer Time on Friday morning. The game will be held at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium in California and will be officiated by French referee Clement Turpin.

This will mark Turpin’s second appearance as a referee at the 2026 World Cup. His first assignment came earlier in the tournament when he officiated England’s 4-2 triumph over Croatia.

Assisting Turpin on the sidelines will be his fellow French assistants Nicolas Danos and Benjamin Pages. Jamaica’s Oshane Nation has been appointed as the fourth official for the contest, while details regarding the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) team are yet to be confirmed.

Clement Turpin is no stranger to the global stage, having previously refereed at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. This North American edition marks his third appearance at football’s most prestigious tournament.

Across his World Cup career, Turpin has taken charge of six matches before this Group D fixture. He maintains a notably low average of 1.8 yellow cards per game, though he has awarded four penalties across those six outings.

In addition to his international experience, the French official has overseen 74 UEFA Champions League matches, issuing 41 penalties and averaging 3.8 bookings per match — a record that highlights his disciplined yet assertive approach to officiating.