Australia made a dream start to their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign, defeating Turkiye 2-0 in their Group D opener. Goals from Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe capped two clinical counter-attacking moves as the Socceroos claimed all three points. Australia remained compact and organised throughout the contest, frustrating their opponents and capitalising on their chances.
For Turkiye, competing in their first World Cup in 24 years, the much-anticipated return to football’s biggest stage ended in disappointment.
Earlier in the day, Scotland moved to the top of Group C with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Haiti in their Group C opener in Massachusetts. With this, Scotland ended a 28-year wait for a World Cup victory.
Elsewhere in the same group, five-time champions Brazil were held to a 1-1 draw by Morocco in New Jersey. Vinícius Júnior rescued a point for Brazil with an equaliser in the 32nd minute.
Meanwhile, the Group B encounter between Qatar and Switzerland also finished level at 1-1 in California, with both sides settling for a share of the points in their opening match of the tournament.
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