World Cup 2026 Day 3: Group D recap

Last year, when the World Cup draw was announced, Australia was happy to be in a group with hosts USA, South American side Paraguay, and a European playoff winner that turned out to be Türkiye. The Socceroos are always the underdogs, but they prepared under the familiar phrase associated with punching above their weight: “Why not us?”

Türkiye had to reach the World Cup through extra European playoff games, but once they did, they were installed as the betting favorite to top Group D. The European dark horse seemed poised to break out on the world's stage. My, my, how the turntables!

General view as players line up during the national anthems before the match

Agustin Marcarian

World Cup Group D- Matchday 1 (part 2)

Australia 1 - 0 Türkiye

Australia coach Tony Popovic had one of his few star players, Riley McGree, ruled out for the tournament, but his first game lineup was shocking when veteran goalkeeper and captain Mathew Ryan was dropped from the starters, and so was midfield spark Jackson Irvine. He opted for a defensive 5-4-1 shape, ready to absorb Türkiye's attacks and hit on counterattacks through speedy winger Nestory Irankunda.

Türkiye came out in their familiar 4-2-3-1 and were prepared to utilize their strong playmakers: Hakan Çalhanoğlu in midfield, Arda Güler out wide, and Kerem Aktürkoğlu up top. As this group goes, so too does Türkiye. Unfortunately for them, they couldn't find success early on in this match.

This game started just as expected. Türkiye possessed the ball, looking to unlock Australia's defense. They had 69% possession in the half but created no clear chances to score. Australia, on the other hand, weathered the storm and then found space forward. In the 27th minute, one of those occasions occurred; Okon-Engstler played Irankunda into space, he beat the scrambling Türkiye defense and slotted the counterattack home! Australia took the lead and held it into halftime.

Australia's Nestory Irankunda scores their first goal

Lee Smith

As the second half started, it was clear that Türkiye was going to be more frantic, and Australia was going to be more stout. Cue the "unstoppable force meets an immovable object" cliché. This was all the more evident in the 57th minute when Türkiye's young star Arda Güler hit a cracker of a free kick that Australian goalkeeper Beach was able to stop, and his defense scrambled to stop a subsequent chance. Beach came up big again in the 73rd minute, stopping a point-blank shot.

Pandemonium struck in the 75th minute when the Socceroos doubled their lead almost out of nowhere; Connor Metcalfe found himself on the ball and went on a run toward the Türkiye box, hit a shot, and scored to make it 2-0 with 15 minutes left. Türkiye kept pushing even harder, but Beach made more big saves, stifling the favorites; he made EIGHT saves in what was a man-of-the-match performance.

Australia's Connor Metcalfe celebrates scoring their second goal

Agustin Marcarian

At almost 2 am Eastern time, this match came to an end; the world was shocked as Australia pulled off a huge upset in Group D, winning 2-0!

Day 3, Group D, Round-up:

Australia got a huge three points and is just slightly behind the USA at the top of Group D. Both teams have three points, but the USMNT has a better goal difference. Their meeting on matchday two could decide the group winner. As for Türkiye, they join Paraguay with zero points after matchday one, and those two nations will now have to play a dead-heat match to see who can still stay alive in Group D!

Day four of the World Cup begins less than 12 hours after day three ended! The matches are coming fast and furious. Including the first game in the City of Brotherly Love! Groups E and F take center stage, and by the end of day four, half of the teams will have completed matchday one at the 2026 World Cup!