Australia vs. Turkey Live World Cup 2026 Updates, Scores and Highlights

It wasn't pretty, but Australia managed a 2-0 win over Turkiye to open their World Cup slate.

After a first half goal from young Watford winger Nestory Irankunda, Australia bagged a second from Connor Metcalfe in the latter half to double the lead. With a 2-0 victory, it's the Australians who claimed all three points in Group D. Tony Popovic's team finished the night with just 28% possession, ceding the ball and the field to their Turkish opponents. Defending in a deep 5-4-1, Australia compressed space in their own half and didn't hesitate to clear the ball out of danger, even without directing it towards striker Mohamed Toure.

It was, perhaps, the most resolute defensive performance of the World Cup so far. Despite allowing 30 shots, Australia only conceded 1.32 expected goals, as per FotMob. The structure held and Popovic's decision to leave goalkeeper Matthew Ryan on the bench in favor of 22-year-old Melbourne City FC shot-stopper Patrick Beach didn't hinder matters, either.

Turkiye, for their part, completely failed to back up their talk heading into the match. Earlier this week, captain and Inter Milan star Hakan Calhanoglu proclaimed that his team would "dominate... because we have more qualities and a more talented team." The opposite proved true for a team that struggled to create clean looks against a supposedly inferior outfit.

Now in Group D, Australia and the United States both boast three points, while Turkiye and Paraguay are still hoping to get on the board.

The U.S. will have a tall task on their hands when it comes time to face off with Australia in Seattle on Friday, while Turkiye might be better off keeping quiet about their next opponent.

What a strike from Connor Metcalfe! What a night for Australia!

Nestory Irankunda reamins this game's only scorer. Will there be another?

From one Australian goalscorer to the next! The second half is now up and running.

The nightcap of a jam-packed Saturday slate of World Cup games, Australia and Turkiye's battle is taking place with a backdrop of shocking lineup decisions.

For Australia, manager Tony Popovic elected to leave veteran Matthew Ryan on the bench, instead opting to start Patrick Beach in his first competitive game between the sticks. In central midfield, Jackson Irvine has been relegated to the bench. For Turkiye, the surprise is that Kenan Yildiz, the rising Juventus star, is among the reserves. Whatever the reason for Yildiz's exclusion, his absence has seemed to blunt Vincenzo Montella's attack. Things were fairly one-dimensional for Turkiye, who have been trying to stack numbers through the middle of their possession setup.

On the field, Turkiye have dominated the ball so far at BC Place. Still, it was Australia who opened the scoring through left winger Nestory Irankunda on a lightning quick attack. With Australia focusing on compressing space in their 5-4-1 defensive block, they had a handful of moments to hit on the break after winning the ball inside their own half.

Will Australia hold their lead in the second half? We'll find out shortly.

Nestory Irankunda madę no mistake on this one!

After a quiet first 25 minutes and a hydration break, we're back to the action in Vancouver!

Let's get this Group D clash started!

Kickoff is just around the corner! It's safe to say the U.S. men's national team's coaching staff will be watching this one from their perch atop Group D.

While the first half in Massachusetts was tense and open, things settled down quite a bit in the second 45 minutes. Chances were largely few and far between.

Enjoying their 1-0 advantage, Scotland spent much more time defending in a 4-4-2 mid-block in an effort to limit Haiti's counter attacking play that caused problems in the opening period. It was all about keeping a lead, rather than extended it.

When Scotland did venture forward, it was once again John McGinn and Ben Gannon-Doak who looked the brightest for Scotland. Keep an eye on Gannon-Doak during the rest of Scotland's run. The 20-year-old Bournemouth winger was the most threatening attacker on the field for either side.

Haiti, for their part, had to take on the role of protagonist in the second half. against Steve Clarke's outfit. Though they ultimately failed to get on the scoresheet, there was plenty for Haiti to be proud of. They found a way to manufacture a handful of promising looks in front of goal, including a header from forward Frantzdy Pierrot in the 85th minute that sent Scotland fans into a temporary panic.

There's a world in which Haiti ended the evening as victors. In just their second World Cup ever, this is a team that hasn't played in their home country since 2021 due to unrest. Haiti's presence at this summer's spectacle is one of the best stories in soccer. 

After Saturday's two matches in Group D, Scotland find themselves on top as the only team to win their first game. Behind Scotland and their three points sits Morocco and Brazil, both on one point, with Haiti at the bottom on zero points.

That's it for John McGinn's night. He'll have to hope his side can see out a narrow victory.

This is what the World Cup means.

The Tartan Army will be hoping for more magic like that in this second half. For now? It's still 1-0.

28 years on from their last World Cup appearance, Scotland took the field at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough with the Tartan Army in full force. Scotland managed the better chances in the first half, including John McGinn's goal in the 28th minute that broke the deadlock.

Still, it wasn't one-way traffic. 

Haiti didn't sit deep and absorb pressure in their own half. Rather, they pushed numbers forward and tried to create chances both in transition and in possession. Along the way, they threatened in Angus Gunn's box, though they're yet to find goal of their own. For a team in just their second World Cup ever, there were plenty of positives from Haiti's first half showing.

But with Scotland's individual difference-makers, the tide is flowing their direction. Between McGinn, Scott McTominay, and Ben Gannon-Doak, who was especially impactful with his one-v-one dribbling and pin-point crossing from the right wing, Steve Clarke's men earned the lead and will hope to extend it in the second half.

The Aston Villa man was in the right place at the right time!

Scotland were that close to going up 1-0.

At their second-ever World Cup, Haiti fans are locked in.

Vamos! It's go time in Group C.

The team sheets are here, folks!

21 straight games unbeaten in World Cup openers, going allllllllll the way back to 1934

It was a cagey second half between Brazil and Morocco, which was quite the departure from the opening 45 minutes.

Still, in the only matchup between two top 10 teams in the FIFA World Rankings at the group stage of this summer's World Cup, it's not a shock to see these two giants reach a sort of stalemate.

After a hot-and-cold first half, Brazil controlled more of the second period. Still, despite Carlo Ancelotti tilting his team towards the attack by adding Luis Henrique and Matheus Cunha to the fold just after the hour mark, Brazil showed relatively little spark in the game's final stages. With Ancelotti making multiple tactical changes – even with his initial lineup – en route to shifting from a 4-4-2 to more of a 4-3-3 in possession, it seems clear that the South Americans are yet to land on their ideal approach.

For Morocco, 18-year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi was their biggest standout. The Lille central midfielder showed why some of the world's biggest clubs are apparently interested in signing him. With his calm under pressure, dynamic ball carrying, line-breaking passing, strength, and ground coverage, Bouaddi helped anchor Morocco defensively and spearheaded so much of their attacking play. The teenager will absolutely be a budding talent to watch all tournament long.

Both sides will feel like they've left something on the table in New Jersey on Saturday. But with games against Scotland and Haiti coming up to finish their Group C slate, Brazil and Morocco should each have a sense of confidence for what comes next at this World Cup.

Unsurprisingly, star streamer gets to meet more legends.

Sure, it was in the first half but this is worth every second of your time.

How's that for the opening half of the World Cup's first real heavyweight clash?

After Morocco made a historic run all the way to the semifinals at the 2022 World Cup, they impressed out of the gates against Brazil at MetLife Stadium (or, New York New Jersey Stadium if you prefer). Mohamed Ouahbi's team controlled long stretches of the opening 45 minutes and didn't shy away from possessing the ball high up the field. Still, Ismael Saibari's go-ahead strike stemmed from a devastatingly efficient counter attack.

That counter attack exposed what could be a weakness for Brazil at this World Cup: their lack of presence in central midfield.

But while Brazil scrambled for much of the first half, there's little doubt about their individual quality. Vinicius Jr.'s equalizer was a moment of brilliance from one of the true stars of this summer's tournament – and that moment provided a touchstone after a messy first half hour in front of a heavily pro-Brazil crowd.

If the first half was this back and forth, what wonders will the second half hold?

Absolute banger to the far post after great work to cut inside the area. Game on.

Absolutely dirty scooped goal from Saibari to open scoring against a stunned Brazil.

Not on the pitch, but still in our hearts. How long before we see him suit up at World Cup 2026?

Show time in New York/New Jersey.

Lot of yellow in the crowd!

That's the magic of the World Cup, everyone. Bringing people together from all walks of life.

Brazil-Morocco going to be scenes. Two of the best nations at the World Cup squaring off in first group game. 30 minutes to kickoff...

Qatar left it late to claim a remarkable point against Switzerland, with the Maroons grabbing a 95th-minute equalizer to keep parity in Group B.

Breel Embolo broke the deadlock with a controversial first-half penalty. Around the 15th-minute mark, Remo Freuler was felled in the six-yard box after goalkeeper Mahmud Abunada clattered into him. It looked like a certain spot-kick, but replays showed a possible offside in the buildup. The play went for a VAR check, but no footage was provided to broadcasters, adding a layer of suspicion among onlookers and pundits. 

Regardless of its validity, the penalty went ahead, and Embolo converted calmly, sending Abunada the wrong way. 

With the Santa Clara heat perhaps getting to the players, the action slowed down in the second half. While Switzerland maintained a hold on the game, it was more of a controlled dominance rather than sending wave after wave of attacks towards Qatar's box, as in the first period. 

Chances were few and far between. Granit Xhaka had a trademark piledriver from distance in the 49th minute, which stung the fingertips of Abunada, and Ruben Vargas should have done better when finding himself free on the left side of the penalty area. 

However, with a couple of minutes remaining, Homam Al Amin whipped in a delightful cross from the left, and Boualem Khoukhi leaped above his marker to convert a powerful header past Gregor Kobel to earn Qatar's first-ever World Cup point. 

The first big shock result of the tournament leaves everything poised in Group B, with both sides joining Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina on a single point.

Towering header from Khoukhi ties game at 1-1 in stoppage time. Wow.

No Neymar in the squad for Carlo Ancelotti ☹️

We have a blockbuster of two top 10 ranked nations coming after Qatar-Switzerland. Updates coming from both games now! Including WILD scenes in Times Square 👀

It was almost a dream start for Qatar when Edmilson Junior pounced on Manuel Akanji's error on the edge of the Switzerland box. However, he couldn't squeeze his shot past goalkeeper Gregor Kobel. 

From there, it was practically all Switzerland, with Dan Ndoye failing to capitalize on two presentable opportunities and Akanji unable to divert a free-kick past Mahmud Abunada.

The breakthrough came from the penalty spot, with Breel Embolo converting coolly after Abunada wiped out Remo Freuler in the box. Questions will be asked of the VAR decision-making, though, with a possible offside in the buildup. 

Switzerland continued to put the pressure on, with Ndoye yet again missing a good chance and Rubén Vargas foiled by Adunada as the break drew near. 

While Edmilson Junior had another decent opportunity just before the half, it's difficult to see the Maroons getting much from this one, given Switzerland's dominance. They will be lucky not to concede more in the second half. 

World Cup HERITAGE.

Embolo cool from the spot to put Europeans ahead vs. Qatar.

Switzerland unable to capitalize as Abunada with strong hand to deny opener.

San Francisco Bay Area Stadium is ready for action.

Peep the setups for both sides before kickoff at 2 p.m. ET

Beauty of the World Cup. Here we are 🫶

Hello, good day, how are you? We are BACK for the third day of games at this year's World Cup, starting with Qatar vs. Switzerland. What a delight!

Today's first game takes place at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium (mouthful) and features two teams very much under the radar. Kickoff is about 2.5 hours away so so enjoy a variety of updates surrounding today's slate as we move closer to game time 🙌