Australia win 2-0 in FIFA World Cup 2026 opener against Turkiye thanks to Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe goals.
The Socceroos have won their opening match at the World Cup for the first time since 2006 thanks goals either side of half time for Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe.
Coach Tony Popovic’s bold selections were vindicated as he selected two Isuzu Ute A-League players in the starting XI.
Paul Okon-Engstler – preferred to Jackson Irvine in midfield – provided the assist for Irankunda’s opener while Melbourne City goalkeeper Patrick Beach – selected ahead of captain Maty Ryan – was outstanding with a string of saves and clean sheet.
The match exploded to life after the first hydration break, with Turkiye finding their first shot on target via an Arda Guler volley in the 26th minute. Patrick beach saved, distributed the ball, and then a long pass from the defensive half by Paul Okon-Engstler set Irankdunda clear.
The 20-year-old former Adelaide United striker took a touch to cut inside Turkiye defender Merih Demiral and then tucked the finish past oncoming goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir.
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The second goal came in the 75th minute when a weaving run through midfield from Connor Metcalfe was followed by a precise long shot into the bottom right corner. The move had started with Alessandro Circati, whose pass was initially intended for Jason Geria but deflected advantageously into Metcalfe’s path.
Turkiye enjoyed more than 70% possession for the match and did make eight attempts on target, but their one sustained period of dominance was diffused by Metcalfe scoring Australia’s second goal.
And the best of those chances came almost immediately after Irankunda’s opener Abdulkerim Bardakci drove his long shot into the left-hand post, with a finger-tip from Beach along the way in the 30th minute.
Other chances for Australia to score included a second shot on target for Irankunda in the 45th minute, and Harry Souttar’s header at a corner drew a save from Cakir in the 54th minute.
Beach had to find his best in the 57th minute as an Arda Guler free kick from a central-left position was saved by a dive from the Australia goalkeeper down to his right.
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Beach was needed again in the 73rd minute as Turkiye right back Zeki Celik got behind the Australia defence and tried to beat the goalkeeper from an acute angle at his near post.
The saves continued in the 77th minute as Kerem Akturkoglu’s close-range header was straight at Beach.
But time expired on Turkiye without finding a way past Australia’s 90-minute centre back trio of Souttar, Circati and Cameron Burgess.
Irankunda, now of Watford having netted 18 Isuzu Ute A-Legaue goals in 60 appearances as a teenger, scored his sixth international goal in his 16th cap.
Metcalfe, a Newcastle boy who played 73 Isuzu Ute A-League matches between 2017 and 2022 for Melbourne City, netted just his second international goal in his 37th cap.
The triumph was the Socceroos’ third at a World Cup against UEFA opposition, joining wins against Serbia in 2010 and Denmark in 2022.
The next assignment for Australia will be co-host the United States of America, who lead Group D on goal difference ahead of the Socceroos thanks to their 4-1 win against Paraguay.
The match will be played in Seattle with kick-off at 5am AEST on Saturday June 20 in Australia.
