Australia's Socceroos have made a dream start to their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign, defeating Turkiye 2-0 in Vancouver.

What happened?

The Socceroos' victory was fueled by stunning strikes from Connor Metcalfe and Nestory Irankunda. Australia's starting XI was its second youngest ever at a World Cup, with only captain Harry Souttar featuring in the run to the Round of 16 in Qatar four years ago.

Why it matters for Australia

The win marks Australia's second ever victory in a World Cup opener. Regular skipper Mat Ryan was benched in favour of Patrick Beach, who proved to be an inspired selection between the sticks. In just his third international appearance, Beach made several crucial saves as a composed Australian back five repeatedly denied Turkish advances.

What comes next?

Türkiye captain Hakan Calhanoglu had declared on the eve of the match that his side would “dominate” the Australians. However, the Socceroos dominated the match, with Irankunda's 27th minute strike giving Australia the lead. The 20-year-old became the youngest ever Socceroo to score a goal at a World Cup. | Stat | Value | | --- | --- | | Score | 2-0 | | Date | June 15 | | Opponent | Turkiye | The Socceroos' next match will be crucial in determining their chances of advancing to the knockout stage.