The Socceroos will take on hosts USA, Paraguay and one of Turkey, Romania, Slovakia or Kosovo in next year’s World Cup group stages after avoiding football’s biggest guns in the draw in Washington DC.

Tony Popovic’s charges were drawn in group D for next year’s finals in North America, landing a marquee match-up with Mauricio Pochettino’s world No.14 -ranked American side - the first time they have played a host nation since 1974 in Germany.

It meant Australia have avoided world champions Argentina, European champions and world No.1 Spain, plus fellow top-four teams France and England, in the finals hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico.

Australia’s draw, against three new World Cup opponents and with no former champions for the first time, will give the Socceroos more belief they can reach the knockout stages for a second successive tournament.

“Little bit excited about getting the US. I predicted we would get one of the host nations - just a theory that I had,” Popovic told reporters in Washington.

“So we know what the anticipation will be: the host nation, the crowd behind them.

“We know a lot of Aussies will come and support, I’m sure they’re all looking at where they can stay and how they can get their tickets now, so we know the country will be behind us. That will be a fantastic game.

“But every game’s important and our first game will be against the European play-off winner, so we need to wait a little while to find out who that will be.

“But an exciting group for us.”

The Socceroos won’t learn their final group-stage opponent until late March, when the European play-offs are completed.

But they have also dodged potential match-ups with the likes of Italy and Denmark.

In UEFA play-off path C, world No.25 Turkey tackle No.47 Romania and No.45 Slovakia take on Kosovo (No.80), before the winners of those ties face off in their play-off final for a spot in Australia’s group.

Teams will await confirmation of the venues and dates for all their group matches on Saturday (Sunday morning AEDT) but given the Socceroos are in the US’s pool, their games appear sure to be set for a stint on North America’s west coast.

The US kick off their tournament against Paraguay in Los Angeles on Friday, June 12 (local time), with Australia set to start their adventure against their as yet unknown European opponents in Canada the next day at Vancouver’s BC Place.

Popovic’s men will then face the US at Lumen Field, Seattle, on June 19 before tackling Paraguay in California at Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara on June 25.

US President Donald Trump was in attendance when Australia were drawn against the hosts at Kennedy Centre on Friday (Saturday morning AEDT), where he also became the first recipient of FIFA’s newly created ‘Peace Prize’.

Australia faced the United States, the world’s No.14-ranked team, as recently as October, suffering a 2-1 defeat, the first loss of the Popovic era, in Colorado.

The Socceroos have played the US four times, for one win, one draw and two losses.

Australia haven’t played world No.39 Paraguay since a 1-0 friendly win in 2010 but are unbeaten in five clashes - two wins, three draws - with the South American team.

That included Popovic’s final game as a Socceroo in 2006, when he scored in a 1-1 draw.

The Socceroos have never faced Kosovo, have played Turkey twice for two losses, have one defeat against Romania and one draw against Slovakia.

It will be the biggest World Cup ever, featuring 48 teams and 104 games.

The top two teams from each of the 12 groups will advance, along with the eight best third-placed teams.

SOCCEROOS’ GROUP FOR THE WORLD CUP FINALS

Group D: United States, Paraguay, Australia, UEFA Playoff C winner (Turkey, Romania, Slovakia or Kosovo)

SOCCEROOS’ EXPECTED FIXTURES (times AEST)

* June 14 - Australia v UEFA Playoff C winner at BC Place, Vancouver

* June 20 - Australia v United States at Lumen Field, Seattle on June 20

* June 26 - Australia v Paraguay at Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara.