Paraguay vs Australia – FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D, Matchday 3
Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, California | Friday 26 June 2026
The Stadium
Levi’s Stadium sits in the heart of Silicon Valley, tucked into Santa Clara just south of San Francisco Bay. Home to the San Francisco 49ers since it opened in 2014, it is one of the most technologically advanced NFL venues in North America — a fact that is either a selling point or a provocation, depending on your relationship with stadium Wi-Fi speeds and app-based concessions.
The stadium holds roughly 68,500 for NFL games, though FIFA configurations can adjust that figure for World Cup fixtures. The design is a clean, contemporary bowl with a signature green rooftop garden atop the home club suite building — an architectural quirk that has become the ground’s visual calling card. Much of the stadium is open to the Bay Area’s famously temperate (and occasionally scorching) summer air, so expect warm conditions for a late-June evening kick-off. Bringing water is not optional; it is strategy.
For the 2026 World Cup, Levi’s Stadium is one of sixteen host venues spread across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This is the first World Cup to use that many venues across three nations, and the Bay Area slot carries genuine weight — the region has one of the largest concentrations of football (soccer) supporters in the United States, drawn from Latin American, Australian, and broader immigrant communities.
It is worth being precise about the stadium’s history: Levi’s Stadium opened in 2014, meaning it played no part in the 1994 World Cup, which was held at Stanford Stadium in nearby Palo Alto. The two venues are separate buildings a few miles apart. Levi’s Stadium did host Super Bowl 50 in February 2016, cementing its reputation as a major-event venue, but for football fans this fixture on 26 June represents the ground’s most significant involvement in the world’s largest sporting tournament.
Getting There
Levi’s Stadium is located at 4900 Marie P DeBartolo Way, Santa Clara, CA 95054 — not in San Francisco proper, so do not anchor your navigation to the city’s downtown districts.
From San Francisco city centre: The most practical route is the VTA (Valley Transportation Authority) light rail combined with Caltrain. Take Caltrain from San Francisco’s 4th & King station south to Santa Clara station, then connect to the VTA light rail toward the Great America station, which is a short walk from the stadium gates. Total journey time is typically 60–80 minutes. On match days, services are reinforced, but allow extra time.
From San Jose: VTA light rail from downtown San Jose to Great America station is the direct option and takes around 30–40 minutes depending on your starting point. This is the most straightforward public transport route in the region.
From San Francisco International Airport (SFO): Take BART to Millbrae, transfer to Caltrain southbound to Santa Clara, then VTA light rail to Great America. Expect 60–90 minutes total. Alternatively, a rideshare directly to the stadium from SFO takes 30–45 minutes outside of heavy traffic — plan for significantly longer during rush hour or post-match congestion.
From Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC): This is the closer airport to the venue. A rideshare takes 15–20 minutes in normal conditions. There is no direct rail connection from the airport terminal to the stadium, so rideshare or taxi is practical here.
Driving and parking: The stadium has on-site parking lots, but for a World Cup match they will be in high demand. Pre-purchased parking passes through the official match channels are strongly recommended. Traffic on the 101 and 237 corridors around the venue can be severe; leaving immediately after the final whistle means sitting in that. Many experienced visitors to Levi’s Stadium advocate parking at a transit hub and riding in.
Travelling From Each Home Country
For Paraguay fans: The main international gateway is Silvio Pettirossi International Airport (ASU) in Asunción. There are no direct flights from Asunción to the Bay Area; connections typically route through Miami, Houston, Dallas, or Panama City. Total travel time including layovers is generally in the range of 12–18 hours. San Francisco (SFO) and San Jose (SJC) are both viable arrival airports. Fans should plan to arrive at least a day before the match to allow for the journey and any customs or immigration processing time at US entry points. Paraguay supporters may find fellow travellers converging in Miami or Houston, which have established Paraguayan and broader South American communities.
For Australia fans: Socceroos supporters face one of the longer journeys in the tournament. Direct flights from Sydney (SYD) to Los Angeles (LAX) or San Francisco (SFO) run regularly and take approximately 14–15 hours. From Melbourne (MEL), similar routing applies. Fans arriving at LAX can connect onward to SFO or SJC, adding another hour or so. Given the time zones and length of travel, arriving two days before the match is worth serious consideration — the Bay Area’s summer climate and the compact Santa Clara geography make acclimatisation relatively gentle, but jet lag across the Pacific is real.
Tickets
Official tickets for all 2026 FIFA World Cup matches, including this Group D fixture, are sold exclusively through FIFA’s official ticketing platform at fifa.com/tickets. This is the only legitimate primary source; any other channel claiming to sell official tickets at face value should be treated with scepticism.
Group stage Matchday 3 fixtures can carry additional significance in terms of standings, which may drive demand higher than a typical early-round game. Allocations for this match will be divided between the two competing associations (the Paraguayan Football Association and Football Australia), FIFA’s general public ballot, commercial partners, and host-nation allocations.
If the official ballot is closed by the time you read this, the secondary market — platforms such as StubHub, Viagogo, and SeatGeek — will carry listings, but prices on those platforms reflect market demand rather than any capped rate. For a World Cup fixture, premiums are standard. Purchasing through unofficial resellers carries the usual risks around authenticity and event-day entry; if you go that route, prioritise platforms with buyer-guarantee policies.
Physical ticket collection or mobile entry specifics will be communicated by FIFA ahead of the tournament; check your confirmation materials carefully.
Fan Zones and City Guide
Official Fan Zone: FIFA typically operates official Fan Fest locations in each host city; the confirmed Bay Area/San Jose location and hours for 2026 will be published on FIFA’s official tournament site closer to the event. Check there for the most current information.
For Paraguay and Australian supporters: San Jose’s downtown core, particularly the area around San Pedro Square Market and the Paseo de San Antonio, has a cluster of bars and restaurants well-suited to pre-match gatherings. The Britannia Arms on Almaden Avenue is an established football-watching pub and a natural meeting point for English-speaking supporters. San Jose also has a growing number of Latin American-owned bars in the Alum Rock and Story Road corridors that will be lively for South American supporters.
If you have a day early in San Francisco: The city is forty miles north but worth the trip. The Ferry Building Marketplace on the Embarcadero is an excellent morning stop. Golden Gate Park is vast and genuinely impressive on foot or by rented bicycle. For football context, the San Jose Earthquakes play at PayPal Park nearby — check their schedule in case there is a midweek MLS fixture to attend.
Watch the Match Remotely
Not making the trip to Santa Clara? Full broadcast listings for your country, plus a detailed match preview covering both sides’ routes into Matchday 3, are available here: Full preview and where to watch
FAQ
- Where is Paraguay vs Australia being played?
- The match is being played at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The address is 4900 Marie P DeBartolo Way, Santa Clara, CA 95054 — located in Silicon Valley, not in San Francisco itself.
- How many fans does Levi's Stadium hold?
- Levi's Stadium has a standard NFL capacity of approximately 68,500. FIFA may adjust the configuration for World Cup fixtures, so the exact ticketed attendance for this match could differ slightly from that figure.
- How do I get to Levi's Stadium from San Francisco centre?
- The most reliable public transport route is Caltrain from San Francisco's 4th & King station to Santa Clara station, then VTA light rail to Great America station, which is a short walk from the stadium. Allow 60–80 minutes and extra time on match days when services are busier.
- Can I still buy tickets for Paraguay vs Australia?
- Official tickets are sold through FIFA's ticketing platform at fifa.com/tickets. If the primary ballot is closed, secondary market platforms such as StubHub or SeatGeek carry resale listings, though prices will reflect demand. Always use platforms with buyer-guarantee policies to reduce risk.
- What is there to do in San Jose or San Francisco for football fans before the match?
- In San Jose, San Pedro Square Market and the downtown bar district are good gathering spots, with the Britannia Arms a known football pub. If you have time, San Francisco is worth a day trip — the Ferry Building and Golden Gate Park are the most rewarding stops. Check whether the San Jose Earthquakes have a home MLS fixture nearby during your visit.