Tony Popovic’s Socceroos opened the 2026 World Cup against Türkiye on June 14 at Vancouver’s BC Place. The match kicked off at 2 p.m. AEST, with Group D still wide open after the United States hammered Paraguay 4‑1. Fans tuned in for a potential early shake‑up in the group.

Australia took a 1‑0 lead into the break thanks to a well‑timed strike from Daniel Irankunda, who found space on the left and curled a low shot past the Turkish keeper. Türkiye pressed hard after the interval, creating several chances, but the Socceroos held firm, maintaining the slender advantage.

The half‑time score puts Tony Popovic’s side in a strong position to claim the opening group point, but a single slip could see Türkiye equalise and force a tighter race. Both teams have a full complement of players available, meaning coaches are unlikely to make major lineup changes unless injuries arise.

A win keeps Australia atop Group D and gives Popovic a tactical edge heading into the final group fixture, while Türkiye must respond quickly to stay in contention. The match’s live blog and gamecast on ESPN provide minute‑by‑minute updates for fans tracking every shift in momentum.