Paraguay, Australia Enter Group D Decider Level on 3 Points

Q: Can one World Cup start make an 18-year-old the most expensive defender in MLS history?

Yes — not by itself, but one World Cup start can be the trigger that pushes Lucas Herrington into that territory. Herrington’s case was already strong before Australia’s 0-0 draw with Paraguay. The 18-year-old Colorado Rapids centre-back had made 17 MLS appearances, earned four senior Australia caps since March, and was already drawing interest from elite European clubs. Reports say Colorado rejected an opening bid from Barcelona and are now seeking a fee above the current MLS record for a defender, understood to be around $7.7 million. What the Paraguay match changed was visibility and proof. Herrington became the youngest Socceroo ever to start a World Cup match and, by all accounts, handled it well. He was described as assured in defence and posted 95% pass accuracy in the first half. For a teenage centre-back, doing that on the World Cup stage matters because buyers are paying not only for talent, but for evidence he can cope under pressure. That said, one start alone does not automatically make him the most expensive defender in MLS history. Transfer fees are driven by club leverage, competing bidders, contract length and whether interest from Europe turns into a formal auction. But the reporting already suggests Colorado believe his price can exceed the existing mark. So the answer is that the World Cup start did not create Herrington’s value from nothing; it likely strengthened a record-level valuation that was already forming.

3 articles · Updated · Sports Illustrated · Jun 26

Paraguay and Australia meet with three points each, but Australia advances with a win or draw while Paraguay likely needs a victory to lock up a top-two spot.
Group D is only partly settled because the USMNT has already qualified and Türkiye has already been eliminated, leaving this match to decide the other direct knockout berth.
Australia brings the stronger head-to-head and ranking profile — unbeaten in 5 meetings with Paraguay and ranked 25th to Paraguay's 37th.
Paraguay arrives in better recent form, having beaten Greece, Mexico and Nicaragua, while Australia has won only once since October 2025 — against Türkiye in the group stage.