Australia pulled off a major upset against Turkey in their Group D match of the FIFA World Cup, marking their first-ever international victory against Turkey in what was a tactical masterclass by manager Tony Popovic. Nestory Irankunda opened the scoring in the 27th minute, and Connor Metcalfe sealed the win with a 75th-minute strike, spoiling Türkiye's return to the World Cup.
Despite dominating possession and registering over 25 shots, Türkiye was unable to break through Australia's disciplined low block. Capitalizing on just 28% of possession, Australia proved incredibly efficient. They secured a 2-0 win entirely on the counter-attack, with goals from 20-year-old Nestory Irankunda in the first half and Connor Metcalfe in the 75th minute. Australian goalkeeper Patrick Beach played a massive role in the victory, recording 8 crucial saves, including a fingertip stop in the first half to keep Türkiye off the scoreboard.
Netizens on X erupts after Australia stuns Turkey at World Cup 2026
Netizens went wild following Australia’s massive 2-0 upset over Turkey in their opening match of the World Cup. Fans celebrated the Socceroos securing their first World Cup victory since 2010 with viral memes, trending hashtags, and street celebrations in cities like Melbourne and Sydney. Fans celebrated the tactical masterclass from coach Tony Popovic and the standout performance of youngster Nestory Irankunda. Irankunda's opening goal and Tim Cahill-style celebration quickly went viral across online forums.
Let us have a look at some of the reactions-
Australia will next be up against the USA on June 19.
