Australia beats Turkey in Vancouver’s World Cup debut
Australia opens 2026 World Cup with 2-0 win over Turkey in Vancouver Beach stars as B.C. Place hosts its first match and fans eye Canada next
Australia opened its 2026 men’s World Cup campaign with a 20 win over Turkey at B.C. Place in Vancouver, marking the city’s first match as a host venue.
Turkey controlled much of the early play, but Australia’s defence held firm and goalkeeper Patrick Beach made eight saves to keep a clean sheet. Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe scored the goals for Australia.
The match drew a large crowd of fans from both teams, though some empty seats were visible despite a reported sellout. CBC spoke with spectators who said resale ticket prices had dropped in the days before the game, reflecting a softer secondary market than some buyers expected.
The next World Cup match at B.C. Place is scheduled for June 18, when Canada faces Qatar.