Australia defeated Turkey 2-0 in their opening match of Group D at the 2026 World Cup. This marks Australia’s sixth consecutive appearance in the tournament. Turkey was returning to the World Cup stage after achieving third place in 2002. The match concluded the first round of games for Group D. This result is considered an upset, as Turkey was expected to perform strongly. The win gives Australia an early advantage in the group standings. The game was played on Saturday, marking the start of competitive play in the 2026 tournament.