Australia 2-0 Turkey: Socceroos Start Group D Campaign with Victory
Goals from Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe gave Australia a 2-0 win over Turkey at BC Place in Vancouver, a perfect start to their World Cup campaign.
Australia kicked off their 2026 FIFA World Cup Group D campaign with a convincing 2-0 victory over Turkey at BC Place in Vancouver. The Socceroos controlled the match from start to finish, securing three crucial points.
The breakthrough came in the 27th minute when young forward Nestory Irankunda latched onto a pass from Paul Okon-Engstler and calmly slotted the ball past the Turkish goalkeeper. The early goal set the tone for Australia's dominant performance.
Turkey struggled to create clear-cut chances in the first half, as Australia's defense, marshaled by their experienced backline, remained organized and resolute. The score remained 1-0 at halftime.
The second half saw Turkey push forward in search of an equalizer, but Australia doubled their lead in the 75th minute. Connor Metcalfe capitalized on a scramble in the box to fire home, making it 2-0 and effectively sealing the win.
Despite Turkey's late efforts, Australia's defense held firm, and the match ended 2-0. The victory puts Australia top of Group D, while Turkey will need to regroup ahead of their next fixture.
Australia will look to build on this performance in their upcoming matches. For more coverage, visit the Australia team page and the match schedule.