The 2026 World Cup rolled on Saturday with 4 matches on the schedule, and while the Brazil vs. Morocco showdown had high billing, Australia delivered the day’s largest stunner in a 2-0 win over Türkiye.
The Aussies took an early lead on a counter capped off by a superb first contact and end by Nestory Irankunda in the twenty seventh minute, then strapped in and held off Türkiye’s salvos. Australia would then double its lead in the seventy fifth minute on a strike from Connor Metcalfe from simply exterior the field and maintain on for the win.
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The consequence delivers a stunning early jolt to Group D. Australia now sits on three factors alongside the U.S. while Türkiye and Paraguay are nonetheless looking for their first World Cup factors.
As for Brazil vs. Morocco, one among the most anticipated matches of the opening spherical lived up to the hype, ending in an entertaining 1-1 draw. Ismael Saibari gave Morocco the lead on a scientific counterattack earlier than Vinícius Júnior answered with a superb equalizer. Despite a number of promising probabilities, neither facet may discover one other breakthrough.
2026 World Cup guide | Schedule | Group tables | Live updates
Scotland beat Haiti 1-0 in its World Cup opener to transfer high of Group C. John McGinn scored in the twenty eighth minute, ending a rebound after Che Adams was denied following a protracted ball from Grant Hanley. Haiti had spells in possession however could not break by means of a disciplined Scotland protection.
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Switzerland and Qatar kicked off Saturday’s motion and the Swiss dominated the match in virtually each manner, however they had been compelled to accept a draw after a last-gasp goal from Qatar’s Boualem Khoukhi. The Canadians scored on a penalty kick by Breel Embolo in the 17th minute and had 23 photographs (seven on aim) in the recreation, however they will solely get one level for Saturday’s outing after the dramatic end.
FINAL: Switzerland 1, Qatar 1 (Group B)
FINAL: Brazil 1, Morocco 1 (Group C)
FINAL: Haiti 0, Scotland 1 (Group C)
FINAL: Australia 2, Türkiye 0 (Group D)
See the way it all performed out on Day 3 of the World Cup under.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
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Yahoo Sports Staff
What a stunner to end off the first spherical of Group D video games. The Aussies bought an early aim off a counter and then doubled it on a blast by Connor Metcalfe in the second half.
They now sit atop Group D together with the U.S. while Türkiye and Paraguay seek for their first factors.
Australia will subsequent play the U.S. on Friday. Türkiye and Paraguay will play the identical day.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
What a phenomenal strike by the Aussie midfielder!
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Yahoo Sports Staff
The Aussies have doubled their lead!
Connor Metcalfe weaved his manner into taking pictures vary and unleashed a bouncing blast from the fringe of the field into the backside proper nook. Turkey’s Ugurcan Cakir had no likelihood of reaching it.
Australia 2, Turkiye 0
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Yahoo Sports Staff
The Turks are actually urgent as we hit the halfway level in the second half and the Aussies are beginning to park the bus a bit.
Just over 20 minutes left in this one.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
The solely goalscorer of the match is being changed. Nestory Irankunda is out and Nishan Velupillay is on.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
Now it’s the Turks with a shot on aim that wanted additional effort from Australia’s goalkeeper to maintain it out.
Patrick Beach reacted nicely to deny a long-range free kick from Turkey’s Arda Guler.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
The Aussies aren’t resting on their laurels with the lead. They simply had a legit likelihood to double it however Harry Souttar’s header towards the backside left nook was brilliantly saved out by Turkey goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
We are again for the second half of Australia-Turkiye. Can the Aussies maintain it rolling and pull off the upset to shake up Group D?
As it stands now, this could be the tally in the group after one match:
USA: 3 factors (+3)
Australia: 3 factors (+1)
Turkiye: 0 factors (-1)
Paraguay: 0 factors (-3) -
Yahoo Sports Staff
Australia’s counter and end by Nestory Irankunda is the distinction in the recreation at the break.
Turkey managed possession and had extra probabilities (10 whole photographs to Australia’s 4), however couldn’t discover the again of the internet and will want a second-half rating to keep away from a letdown.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
On the heels of that Australia aim, Turkey has been extraordinarily aggressive in making an attempt to stage and this opportunity from Abdulkerim Bardakci virtually discovered the internet, however Aussie GK Patrick Beach bought simply sufficient of it and the ball glanced off the submit.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
What a primary contact by Nestory Irankunda:
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Yahoo Sports Staff
The Aussies are on the board and it got here on a rapid-fire counter after a legit likelihood from Turkey.
Nestory Irankunda broke down the left flank and delivered a superb first contact earlier than ending in the bottom-left nook of the internet.
Australia 1, Turkey 0
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Yahoo Sports Staff
We’re at the halfway level in the first half and the Turks have 4 photographs to Australia’s 1. Still no actual harmful moments in this one however the Aussies are controlling possession.
It’s been a little bit of a cagey affair up to now.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
There have not been too many harmful probabilities up to now. As anticipated, Turkiye has been the extra aggressive facet and had a pair respectable alternatives, however not a lot has threatened Aussie GK Patrick Beach.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
The Turks are favored in this Group D conflict with a moneyline at -145. Australia is the underdog at +420, while a draw is round +270.
The over/beneath for whole targets sits at 2.5.
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Yahoo Sports Staff
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Yahoo Sports Staff
We are mere minutes away from the begin of the Australia-Turkiye Group D conflict.
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Armando Botello II
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