Australia 2-0 – Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe scored as Australia beat Türkiye 2-0 on Saturday night, ruining Türkiye’s long-awaited World Cup return for the first time in 24 years. Patrick Beach made eight saves in a tense group opener in Group D.
VANCOUVER, B.C. — Nestory Irankunda struck in the 27th minute and Connor Metcalfe added a second in the 75th. and Australia made Türkiye’s World Cup return one night it will remember for the wrong reason. The Socceroos held on for a 2-0 victory in their group opener. sending the ball into the net twice and Türkiye back into silence after a break from the tournament that lasted 24 years.
Goalkeeper Patrick Beach was central to the momentum from the start. He made eight saves as Australia picked up the kind of win that can define a group. FIFA President Gianni Infantino watched from the stands, a reminder of how big the occasion was for both sides.
For Australia. it was business as usual in the World Cup spotlight: playing in its sixth straight World Cup and seventh overall. For Türkiye, it was something else entirely. Türkiye reached the semifinals of the 2002 World Cup. then missed five straight tournaments before qualifying this year by beating Kosovo in a playoff. Their presence in the tournament for the first time in 24 years turned the opening match into an all-or-nothing moment. and Australia delivered the heavy blow.
Irankunda’s goal arrived with precision. He broke through in the 27th minute with a low shot while pursued by three defenders. It landed less than a minute after the first-half hydration break, turning the restart into a turning point.
His celebration carried meaning beyond the scoreline. Irankunda punched the corner flag in tribute to Australian soccer legend Tim Cahill. At 20 years old, he became the Socceroos’ youngest-ever goal scorer at a World Cup.
The night stayed tense even after Australia went ahead. Beach had an early answer, stopping Abdulkerim Bardakcı’s blast from distance in moments that could have swung belief back toward Türkiye.
Australia also made a statement with selection. Beach started in goal for the Socceroos rather than experienced counterpart Matthew Ryan, a surprise decision from coach Tony Popovic.
Türkiye tried to claw their way back. Arda Güler had a dangerous free kick in the 57th minute, but Beach saved his attempt. Güler—an attacking midfielder who plays for Real Madrid—was born long after Türkiye’s last World Cup appearance.
At half-time, Türkiye made a change: Kenan Yildiz, a 21-year-old who plays for Juventus, came on for the visitors.
The second goal didn’t come from a slow build. In the 75th minute, Connor Metcalfe capitalized on Ismail Yüksek’s turnover to double Australia’s lead. From there, Türkiye’s return match became a chase instead of a plan.
Australia’s World Cup path has had its own scars. The Socceroos fell to France in the opener in Qatar, then beat Tunisia and Denmark in their group before getting knocked out by eventual champion Argentina in the round of 16.
For Türkiye, the 2-0 loss closed a chapter that had taken them back to the tournament after years away. It is their third World Cup appearance, with their first coming in 1954.
Both teams are in Group D with the United States and Paraguay. On Friday in Los Angeles, the Americans downed Paraguay 4-1 in their group opener, leaving the standings poised to tighten quickly—especially after Australia’s statement win in the opener.
Australia vs Türkiye Socceroos World Cup Group D Nestory Irankunda Connor Metcalfe Patrick Beach Tim Cahill tribute Arda Güler Kenan Yildiz FIFA President Gianni Infantino