Australia upset Turkey 2-0 in their Group D opener at the 2026 World Cup, anchored by an impressive goalkeeping performance from 22-year-old Patrick Beach. Despite expectations that veteran goalkeeper and captain Mathew Ryan would start, coach Tony Popovic opted to give Beach, who was making only his third international appearance, the nod between the posts.

Turkey dominated possession throughout much of the match, controlling the ball for roughly 72 percent of the game and registering 30 shots on goal. However, Beach’s composure and agility proved decisive as he made eight saves, preserving a clean sheet that underpinned Australia’s victory.

Popovic emphasized that his squad was built to perform as a cohesive unit, regardless of individual experience, and praised Beach for his confidence and quality of saves during the contest. The result places Australia second in Group D behind the United States on goal differential, marking a positive start to their tournament campaign.