Sports
Australia’s defense masterclass mars Türkiye’s World Cup return
Australia showcased some disciplined defending and clinical finishing to secure a 2-0 victory over Türkiye at BC Place late Saturday, spoiling the Crescent-Stars’ return to world football’s biggest stage after a 24-year hiatus.
Pre-match attention had centred on Türkiye’s Arda Güler, but it was Australia’s youthful attack that made the difference.
Tony Popovic’s side set up to absorb pressure and break quickly, with Mohamed Toure – back from illness – leading the line alongside Nestory Irankunda.
Their pace and directness provided a constant outlet on the counter, unsettling a Turkish side that dominated possession but struggled to create clear-cut chances.
That approach paid off in the 27th minute when Irankunda combined pace and control with a composed finish for his sixth international goal, underlining why the 20-year-old is considered one of Australia’s brightest talents.
“Proud to be here as head coach, to experience this, to put a smile on these people’s faces who have travelled so far to support us – I’m just happy for a wonderful young group of men,” Popovic said.
“You see the young boys combining to score a goal and can’t underestimate what this will do for their confidence and belief.”
Türkiye captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu had spoken confidently beforehand, describing his team as more talented and expecting them to control the game as they made their World Cup return after over two decades.
While his side did enjoy the bulk of possession and registered more shots on target, they were unable to translate that superiority into goals.
Australia were compact and disciplined throughout, closing off space and limiting Türkiye’s effectiveness in the final third.
Güler saw plenty of the ball but repeatedly ran into a wall of gold shirts, with Australia crowding him out whenever he tried to dictate play in dangerous areas.
Goalkeeper Patrick Beach justified his selection ahead of Mathew Ryan with a series of important saves, ensuring Australia’s defensive effort held firm under sustained pressure.
‘Türkiye have time to recover’
Türkiye coach Vincenzo Montella rued his side’s slow start to the World Cup but said they still have time to recover from a humbling 2-0 defeat.
“We are extremely saddened,” the Italian said. “We know there is still time to recover in the group stage.”
“We know that in the beginning, the team has been a little bit slow,” he conceded.
Türkiye struggled to match Australia physically, with the Socceroos outmuscling their opponents in challenges and getting their heads to the ball first at crosses and corners.
“They’re very tall, so it’s very difficult sometimes,” said Montella.
Australia had few chances but were dangerous on the break as Türkiye scrambled to get players back from attacking positions, a cause for concern for Montella.
Türkiye are above their next opponents Paraguay on goal difference only and need to win in San Francisco on June 19 to keep their hopes of reaching the knockout phase alive.
Socceroos put faith in youth
Popovic’s gamble on youth, meanwhile, paid off in the surprise win. He surprised many by playing Beach in place of regular captain Mat Ryan and leaving veteran midfielder Jackson Irvine on the bench.
The Socceroos boss’ faith in Beach was rewarded with an assured display from the Melbourne City keeper.
Irvine’s replacement, Paul Okon-Engstler, on the other hand, also impressed, playing in Irankunda to give Australia a lead they defended resolutely before Connor Metcalfe doubled it 15 minutes from time.
Popovic, however, dismissed any suggestion that picking Beach or Okon-Engstler was a left-field choice.
“They may be shocks for a lot of people, but not shocks within our playing group or staff because we’re all working together every day and we can see the quality of these young boys,” he told reporters.
“It’s a team selected to perform well. You never know the result, of course, we’re at a World Cup, but for me it’s the performance – it’s not the result … regardless of the result, it was the right decision.”
Popovic, who this week signed a contract extension to continue until the Asian Cup in 2027, also said the best was yet to come from his young charges.
“Their ceiling, they’re nowhere near it because they’re a young group with no experience at a World Cup, very limited experience playing for their national team,” he said.
“Their ceiling should come in four or eight years really, most of these boys.”
Popovic then turned his focus back to Australia’s next match against co-hosts the United States, a game in which a win could well secure top spot in Group D.
He said he did not care if the Socceroos’ victory over Türkiye would prompt more respect from opponents.
“I don’t know, nor am I concerned about that,” he added.
“Maybe the perception changes slightly because we’ve beaten Türkiye, a big nation … but we’ve still got a lot of work to do and we’ve got to move on to the U.S. game.”
“It’ll be a special game. Being at a World Cup is enough, and playing the host nation adds to that,” Popovic added.
“We’ll recover well, prepare well, and respect a very good U.S. side,” he said.
Spain arrived in Atlanta expecting to make a deep World Cup run, but faces a Monday opener against Cape Verde, whose players are embracing the excitement of representing their nation at the tournament for the first time.
The European champions open their Group H campaign against Cape Verde, with Uruguay and Saudi Arabia also in the section, in a fixture that looks on paper like a meeting of different football planets.
Luis de la Fuente’s side have become close to immovable over the last four years, going 30 matches unbeaten since a 1-0 friendly loss to Colombia at Wembley in March 2024. Since then, Spain have recorded 23 wins and seven draws playing some of the most entertaining, attacking football seen in recent times.
The only wrinkle in that spotless-looking run was a 5-4 penalty defeat to Portugal in the 2025 Nations League final after a 2-2 draw, following extra time, in a match where Spain twice led but failed to retain the title they had won in 2023.
Cape Verde, however, are not merely in North America to provide the romance. The Blue Sharks were one of the surprise qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup and, with fewer than 600,000 inhabitants, are the third-smallest country by population to reach the tournament after Iceland in 2018 and Curacao, also in 2026.
Their rise has been stitched together from an archipelago and a diaspora. That blend proved highly effective in qualifying, where Cape Verde won seven of their 10 games, lost only once and claimed a stunning home victory over Cameroon.
Their World Cup place may feel like a fairy tale, but Cape Verde have been building credibility for years. In 2013, they qualified for their first Africa Cup of Nations and reached the quarterfinals at the first attempt.
Spain, meanwhile, may take a cautious approach with Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, who are in the final stages of recovery from hamstring injuries sustained in April. Both returned to training with their teammates Thursday, but De la Fuente may decide patience is wiser than risk.
For Spain, the target is a second World Cup title after their 2010 triumph in South Africa. For Cape Verde, Monday offers something rarer still: the first page of a story their supporters have waited generations to read.
Wimbledon organisers have described the return of 23-time Grand Slam singles champion Serena Williams to competition as “exciting,” amid growing speculation that the American could receive a wildcard entry for this year’s Championships.
The 44-year-old stepped back onto the court this week for the first time in nearly four years, teaming up with Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko in doubles at the WTA event at Queen’s Club.
Williams, a seven-time Wimbledon singles champion, has not confirmed whether she will feature at the All England Club, though reports suggest she is in line for a wildcard, most likely in doubles.
“I guess what I can say is we can all see how much excitement Serena being back on a tennis court, and particularly back on a grass court, has created,” Sally Bolton, chief executive of the All England Club, said Thursday.
“And so one can only imagine what that would be like at the Championships. The wildcard committee will make its decisions next week, and we’ll be communicating those early next week.
“She has certainly created a fantastic buzz, and that is exciting for the sport.”
Williams won her first Wimbledon singles title in 2002 and her most recent in 2016. She has also won six women’s doubles titles at the grass-court major.
“And as and when at the wildcard meeting next week, I’m sure it won’t ignore her success at Wimbledon when making that decision,” All England Club chair Debbie Jevans said.
Wild cards are given to players whose rankings do not merit a place in the main draw and are often awarded to home players, top players returning from injury layoffs or those, such as Williams, with notable past success.
The announcement will be made Tuesday.
Fans heading to Vancouver for the World Cup are confronting steep ticket prices, but many say the cost is secondary to the personal meaning behind the trip, with supporters traveling to honor loved ones or share the experience with family.
The tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, opened Thursday with Mexico beating South Africa 2-0 in a tense match that produced three red cards. Vancouver hosts its first game Saturday, when Türkiye face Australia in a Group D clash.
For some fans, the journey carries a deeper purpose. One German supporter said he traveled to Vancouver to pay tribute to his late father, who had a strong affection for the city, even as he acknowledged the rising costs of following the tournament.
“We are here to watch Australia against Turkey, and I’m happy to get some tickets,” Harold from Germany told Reuters.
“I paid $150. That’s a lot of money for a football match, but I got lucky to get tickets at this price.”
“We’ve been to tournaments in Germany, the World Cup and the World Cup in Brazil in 2014, and it has always been expensive, but it’s getting more and more expensive, and I don’t like this, but I think it’s a great atmosphere.”
Lasting memories
Australian fan Mark Wright, attending his fifth World Cup with his family, said the expense mattered little compared with the chance to create lasting memories.
The Socceroos have made a habit of qualifying for the global showpiece, reaching the last six editions and advancing to the round of 16 for a second time in Qatar four years ago.
“It wasn’t about the cost. I’ve been to four World Cups now, and it’s never about the cost,” Wright said. “It’s about following my country and my team and spending time with my family.
“For me, the World Cup is a lifetime memory, doing things that I love, celebrating, watching.
“I think the World Cup makes everywhere better. You see the best version of a country or a city because people are happy. Generally, the weather decides to be good as well, out of some sort of miracle. But football is life, as they say in the popular TV show Ted Lasso, and I think that gives everyone a bit of a feeling, and it improves the city.”
Türkiye step into a World Cup match for the first time in 24 years on Sunday, opening their 2026 campaign against Australia in Vancouver in a Group D fixture that brings together history, momentum, and contrasting tournament identities at BC Place Stadium.
Kickoff is set for 07:00 Turkish time.
The other Group D match sees the United States face Paraguay, adding early pressure to a group already considered one of the most balanced in the competition.
For Türkiye national football team, the match represents more than an opener. It marks a long-awaited return to the World Cup stage for the first time since 2002, when the team stunned global football by finishing third.
Two decades later, they arrive in North America with renewed belief, built on a strong qualifying run and a sharp competitive rise under Vincenzo Montella.
Their recent form adds weight to that confidence. Türkiye enter the tournament unbeaten in eight matches and have won seven of their last eight, including pre-tournament victories over North Macedonia and Venezuela.
That run has strengthened the sense that this is a team capable of progressing beyond the group stage for the first time in the modern era.
Yet the opening match carries uncertainty.
Kenan Yıldız remains a major doubt after missing full training due to a calf issue, limiting Türkiye’s attacking flexibility in wide areas. His absence would remove one of the squad’s most direct and progressive forwards, forcing adjustments in the final third.
Even so, the squad retains a blend of elite-level experience and emerging talent across Europe’s top leagues.
Arda Güler arrives fully fit after recovering from injury at Real Madrid and is expected to play a central creative role.
Captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu anchors the midfield with control and set-piece threat, while Deniz Gül is positioned to lead the line.
Supporting options include Barış Alper Yılmaz and Orkun Kökçü, giving Montella multiple tactical shapes depending on game state.
Defensively, Türkiye offer continuity and European experience with Merih Demiral, Çağlar Söyüncü, Zeki Çelik and Ferdi Kadıoğlu among the key figures. In goal, a three-way competition between Altay Bayındır, Mert Günok and Uğurcan Çakır adds depth but also selection complexity for the coaching staff at a crucial moment.
Across the pitch, Australia national football team bring a different profile. The Socceroos arrive with tournament rhythm, having qualified for a fifth consecutive World Cup and reaching the round of 16 in 2022, their best performance in modern competition and a continuation of their reputation as a disciplined knockout-capable side.
Australia’s preparation has been steady rather than spectacular. A narrow 1-0 defeat to Mexico was followed by a 1-1 draw with Switzerland, matches that highlighted their defensive structure and reliance on transitions rather than sustained possession. That identity is expected to remain central in Vancouver.
Their squad is built on experience and familiarity. Mathew Ryan remains a stabilizing presence in goal, Jackson Irvine provides midfield work rate and leadership, and Mathew Leckie brings World Cup experience and physical presence on the flank. Mohamed Toure is expected to lead the attack after a productive club spell, offering pace and direct movement as Australia look to stretch defensive lines.
Historically, the matchup is limited but slightly favors Australia, who won both previous meetings in 2004 friendlies. However, those results carry limited relevance to a new generation of players and a vastly different competitive landscape.
Tactically, the match is expected to hinge on control versus transition. Türkiye’s challenge will be breaking down a compact Australian block while maintaining defensive balance against counterattacks. Australia, meanwhile, will look to absorb pressure and exploit space behind advanced fullbacks, especially in wide channels.
With the United States and Paraguay also in the group, neither side can afford a slow start. In a section where qualification may come down to goal difference or single moments, Vancouver’s opener carries disproportionate weight for both teams’ tournament trajectories.
Neymar was again absent from Brazil’s training session in Morristown, New Jersey, on Wednesday as the squad continued preparations for Saturday’s World Cup opener against Morocco while also celebrating head coach Carlo Ancelotti’s 67th birthday.
Ancelotti’s players paid tribute to the Italian, who has been tasked with ending Brazil’s 24-year wait for a sixth World Cup title, with a traditional guard of honor. Barcelona forward Raphinha later joked that the team had gone easy on him compared with the usual treatment.
“He passed through it, but nobody touched him,” Raphinha said.
Talisman Neymar continues his intensive rehabilitation for a grade 2 calf injury suffered while playing for Santos in Brazil in mid-May.
The 34-year-old is set to miss the first game, with no indication yet on whether he will feature in subsequent group matches against Haiti and Scotland.
Despite Neymar’s absence, Brazilian pundits present at the training ground remained optimistic.
“Brazil is not the great favorite, but it has good players that can come together to form a good team. I think it has its chances,” said Zinho, a key midfielder in the Brazil team that won the World Cup in the United States in 1994.
Zinho, who is currently a pundit for ESPN, believes Ancelotti’s side will be cautious against a Morocco team that reached the semifinals at the last World Cup.
Benjamin Back, a popular Brazilian radio commentator, said Ancelotti would not alter the team’s style.
“He will have a team that defends and waits for the opponents’ actions before trying to be quick in transition once it wins the ball,” he said.
“It is a young group, with good physical condition and a great coach. I would put Brazil among the favorites,” he added.
Brazil’s first game will take place at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Mexico got the World Cup party started as the co-hosts swept away South Africa 2-0 on Thursday, in an encounter with three red cards as the quadrennial football extravaganza got underway.
Julian Quinones’s early strike set the tone for a dominant Mexican display in the Group A encounter, with Raul Jimenez’s header midway through the second half removing any lingering tension for the home crowd.
Amid escalating protests and social tensions in Mexico’s capital, more than 80,000 fans made their way to Mexico City Stadium, better known as Azteca Stadium.
It got a much-needed facelift ahead of the 48-team tournament that Mexico is co-hosting alongside the United States and Canada.
Before the kickoff, the crowd was entertained by Colombian singer Shakira and a host of performers in an opening ceremony.
Yet the match will be remembered as much for the three dismissals, with South Africa having Sphephelo Sithole sent off early in the second half, with his teammate Themba Zwane following him off the pitch before Mexico’s Cesar Montes was dismissed in the dying moments.
The ill-tempered encounter spoiled an otherwise party atmosphere, yet the home crowd got to celebrate an opening victory that will set them up nicely to make it out of a group that also includes South Korea and the Czech Republic.
The game was barely minutes old when Jimenez stung the fingertips of South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams with a volley from 12 yards, but the tournament’s opening goal was not long in coming.
Sithole was robbed on the edge of his own box by Erik Lira, preferred in the heart of midfield to captain Edson Alvarez, and he quickly fed Quinones, who danced inside before drilling a low finish beneath Williams.
It was the earliest first goal at a World Cup since 2006, when Philipp Lahm netted for Germany against Costa Rica after six minutes.
It took 35 minutes for South Africa to even vaguely threaten the Mexico goal when Lyle Foster glanced a header wide, yet as the first half drew to a close, Hugo Broos’s side were clinging on for dear life.
First, Jimenez wafted a foot at an inswinging cross to draw a fine save from Williams before Quinones struck the post from close range with the goal at his mercy, and Brian Gutierrez pushed an effort wide when he should have done better.
The second half began in a similar vein, and it was Gutierrez who drew the first red card when his marauding run toward the box was stopped in its tracks by Sithole, whose clumsy tackle from behind earned him his marching orders to complete a miserable afternoon’s work for the midfielder.
The crowd had begun to get a little restless at Mexico’s failure to turn their numerical advantage into another goal, but that frustration was relieved when Jimenez bagged his first World Cup goal, with a powerful downward header past Williams from a devilish cross by Roberto Alvarado.
The game’s finale was dominated by the dismissals , with Zwane sent off after a VAR check for a supposed arm to the face, while Montes was sent off for Mexico for denying a goalscoring opportunity.
Azteca Stadium is the first venue to host three World Cup openers, after doing so at the 1970 and 1986 tournaments.
It is the eighth opening match of a World Cup for the Mexicans, who had previously lost five and drawn the last two, including against South Africa in the 2010 World Cup.
South Africa are playing in their first World Cup since hosting the 2010 tournament. Bafana Bafana also played in the 1998 and 2002 editions.
Mexico arrived with an eight-match unbeaten streak and have not lost since last November, when Paraguay beat them in a friendly.
The Mexican team is led by the 67-year-old coach Javier Aguirre, who is in his third stint with the national team.
The opener was also marked by teenager Gilberto Mora, who became Mexico’s youngest player in World Cup history.
The attacking midfielder was brought on in the 66th minute at the age of 17 years and 240 days.
Mora was already part of the Mexico team that won the Gold Cup when he was 16. His appearance on Thursday was his ninth overall for his country.
He is also the youngest player at the tournament, and the Club Tijuana player has already attracted the interest of European clubs.
The youngest player in men’s World Cup history remains Northern Ireland’s Norman Whiteside, who played at the 1982 tournament in Spain at the age of 17 years and 41 days.
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