Match Preview: Australia v Türkiye | FIFA World Cup 2026™

Australia will take on Türkiye in their first game in Group D of the FIFA World Cup 2026™.

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The game will be held in Vancouver, Canada. It is the third time that the Socceroos have played Türkiye, and the first since a two-game friendly series in 2004. Australia will be hoping to secure what would be their first ever win against Türkiye to get their tournament off to the best possible start.

Read our preview of the big game below.

The Squad

Head Coach Tony Popovic revealed that he will have the full 26-player squad to choose from ahead of the all-important first game of the World Cup.

"Everyone's healthy. Mo Toure's good as well, he's fine. So everyone's available, which is what a coach wants leading into the first match," he said.

Seventeen out of the squad of 26 are in line to make their first World Cup appearance. They include players who have been used heavily by Popovic over the last few windows such as Lucas Herrington, Nestory Irankunda, Alessandro Circati and Mohamed Toure.

At the other end of the experience scale, Mat Ryan and Mathew Leckie are set to appear in their fourth World Cup, equalling the record held by Tim Cahill and Mark Milligan.

In terms of the starting eleven, Popovic said that the staff were happy with the team they were putting out.

"The process we go through is the same as what we do for every international," he explained.

"Obviously, the World Cup is unique. It's every four years. It's the greatest sporting event in the world and it's a little different of course - the excitement, the pressure of it - but the process remains the same. We're comfortable with our process and we're happy with the team that will be starting tomorrow."

Last Game

The Socceroos drew 1-1 with Switzerland in the final hit-out before the tournament.

Popovic named a heavily rotated side for the fixture and it paid off, with valuable minutes being shared around the squad. Cristian Volpato and Tete Yengi became CommBank Socceroos #660 and #661 when they started the match, and Yengi scored the equaliser in the second half.

"It was nice that we got a result, in the end, playing a very strong nation. A good response in the second half, a lot of different faces on the field, and the young boys acquitted themselves well," he said after the game.

"This all plays a part in the experience for the players. It was nice to not have any injuries after this game, that was the most important part. We were competitive and we scored a nice goal. I'm happy and looking forward to next week."

The Opponent

Türkiye are a team of exciting young talent that are hoping to go far at this World Cup.

Vincenzo Montella is a former Italy international who took over as Head Coach back in 2023. He has overseen a team that plays eye-catching football - seen on the world stage at the Euros in 2024, when they reached the quarter-finals - and has seamlessly integrated new players into the set-up.

Their star player is Real Madrid's Arda Guler. He was a key part of Madrid's side this season at only 21 years of age, winning the UEFA Champions League Young Player of the Season - as well as scoring the La Liga Goal of the Season, and being part of the Team of the Season - and has shown that he can step up on the big stage under pressure.

Hakan Calhanoglu is the captain of the side, and said this week that the team would be looking to "dominate" Australia.

"We've analysed the team, they're very strong individually and collectively," Popovic said.

"It's a very passionate team, people are very passionate for the football, so I know every Turkish supporter and fan is very excited to be at the World Cup. We know they are strong, we've analysed them, but we also have to think of ourselves and think of how we can cause them problems and show Australian football at the World Cup.

"That's our aim tomorrow: to be extremely competitive, to show that we are a strong nation and that we deserve to be respected."

FIFA World Rankings

Australia: 27
Türkiye: 23

Head-to-head

Played: 2
Wins: 0
Draws: 0
Losses: 2

Form Guide

Australia form guide: D-L-W-W-L

Türkiye form guide: W-W-W-W-D

What They Said

Tony Popovic

We understand that not many people are expecting much from us outside of our own people, our own media, our own team, our own staff. But we're accustomed to that. We're confident that we can show them some great football tomorrow and show them what Australian football can do.

I was fortunate to experience it as a player, and I know tomorrow will be a special moment when that national anthem is playing. I'm sure after that I'll be present and in the moment and ready to support the team and help the team any way I can from the sideline.

Our job as coaches is to make sure that they stay present in the moment and don't let it just flash by at the World Cup, really play every moment. And I think if we can do that between the ears, in our minds, I think you'll see a very good performance from us tomorrow.

Aiden O'Neill

We've been preparing for a while now. We're all just really excited. Flying into Vancouver today has made it feel that more real. We're all just extremely excited.

We've got quality players in our team so we're ready for tomorrow.

Jacob Italiano

In football you need to look at... the entire team, how they play their football, how they like to play. Obviously, we need to respect that they have some really good individuals in there. 

We haven't talked too much about individuals so far. We know they have a couple of key players, but it's more about as a unit how we can hurt them and how we can stop them from doing their thing.

Aziz Behich

It's going to be a special moment. I never thought this would happen, that's for sure. It'll be the first time I'll be coming up against them as well. So, no doubt. I think... When match day hits and we're at the stadium, I think that's when we're all kind of sinking in.

We have a lot of players with World Cup experience. There's a few of us who are in our third, some playing the fourth. A lot of boys had some last campaign in Qatar. This is all their [Türkiye's] first time. A big nation like that, it comes with pressure. And being away from the World Cup and obviously playing there, I know how proud they are as a nation to do well. So no doubt they're going to have pressure. 

But look, we've just got to focus on ourselves. We know the qualities they have in their squad. They have a lot of great individual players that play at big clubs. So we're wary of that. We've worked hard. We've analysed them, watched videos. The most important thing is how we perform and what we do as a team.

Jordy Bos

I just have to soak up the experience and just play football. It's kind of hard to feel the moment as it is now. I think afterwards you'll really understand the experience that I'm in.

Milos Degenek

It's phenomenal, and I can't wait for the World Cup to start, but I can't wait to see the boys who've not been to one yet to see how it impacts them and how it helps them push their career forward over the next period. It's going to help not just them, but it's going to help us as a nation and the Socceroos over the next period with this experience. 

Hopefully we do really well. Then, that motivates not just us but the younger kids as well to work even harder.

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