Australia and Türkiye get their 2026 World Cup underway against one another at BC Place, and for both, the Group D opener carries real weight. With the United States and Paraguay completing the group, and the expanded format sending the top two plus the best third-placed sides into the last 32, a positive start is close to essential. Türkiye are back at a World Cup for the first time since their third-placed finish in 2002, while the Socceroos are appearing at a sixth consecutive tournament under Tony Popovic.
Because this is the opening fixture for both nations, neither side carries any group-stage form into the contest — the slate is clean, and the winner lands an immediate advantage. Popovic’s headache is in defence: first-choice right-back Lewis Miller misses the tournament after Achilles surgery, with Jacob Italiano stepping in. Türkiye, by contrast, arrive in Vancouver with a fully fit squad and their star generation — Arda Güler, Kenan Yıldız and captain Hakan Çalhanoğlu — all available.
When is the match on and where to watch it?
The match kicks off at 2:00pm AEST on Sunday 14 June — a rare prime-time slot for Australian fans. All 104 World Cup matches are live and free in Australia on SBS, SBS VICELAND and streamed via SBS On Demand, so there’s no paywall to navigate. SBS On Demand is the way to go if you’re watching on a phone, tablet or smart TV. As always, check your local guide, as scheduling can shift across the tournament.
The stadium
BC Place sits in downtown Vancouver on the north side of False Creek, an arena seating around 54,500. Its cable-supported retractable roof is the largest of its kind in the world, so Pacific Northwest weather is never a concern — and the central setting makes it one of the tournament’s most atmospheric stages.
Possible line-ups
Australia (4-3-3): Ryan; Geria, Souttar, Burgess, Bos; O’Neill, Irvine, Metcalfe; Leckie, Yengi, Irankunda
Türkiye (4-2-3-1): Bayındır; Çelik, Demiral, Söyüncü, Kadıoğlu; Çalhanoğlu, Ayhan; Barış Alper Yılmaz, Güler, Yıldız; Aktürkoğlu
Other things to do in Vancouver:
6 July 2026 09:00 + more dates
22 August 2026 18:00 + more dates
15 August 2026 18:00 + more dates
