Australia put on a defensive masterclass as they beat Türkiye 2-0 in Vancouver in the final opening Group D match.
All eyes were on Türkiye's talisman Arda Güler, but it was Australia's youthful attack that stole the show.
Nestory Irankunda became Australia's youngest World Cup goalscorer when the 20-year-old opened the scoring in the 27th minute with a composed finish after the Socceroos launched a swift counterattack.
Türkiye, appearing at the World Cup for the first time since 2002, enjoyed the overwhelming bulk of possession throughout the game, but were unable to turn it into goals.
Connor Metcalfe's strike 15 minutes from time sealed victory for Australia and gave them the perfect start to their World Cup campaign.
“Proud to be here as head coach, to experience this, to put a smile on these people's faces who have travelled so far to support us. I'm just happy for a wonderful young group of men,” Tony Popovic said.
Star player Vinícius Júnior helped Brazil salvage a 1-1 draw against Morocco after a shaky start to their Group C opener.
A thunderous strike from the Real Madrid forward levelled the game in the 32nd minute after Morocco's Ismael Saibari had lifted the ball over the onrushing Alisson Becker to open the scoring 11 minutes earlier.
After reaching the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup, Morocco carried their impressive form into this tournament by dominating Brazil during the opening half-hour.
The game at New York New Jersey Stadium drew a star-studded crowd, including former NFL star Tom Brady, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and rapper Travis Scott.
The hosts of the last World Cup, Qatar, scored a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser against Switzerland to claim their first-ever point at a World Cup finals.
Boualem Khoukhi headed home in the 94th minute to cancel out Breel Embolo's first-half penalty.
The match was largely one-sided and Switzerland will be disappointed not to have put away their earlier chances.
“I told them that even if we hadn't scored the goal and didn't draw I would have been proud of the mentality and discipline that they showed today,” said Qatar's Spanish head coach Julen Lopetegui.
Scotland opened their Group C campaign with a 1-0 win over Haiti thanks to a first-half goal from John McGinn.
It was Scotland's first opening victory at a major tournament since 1982.
With Morocco and Brazil still to come in the group, victory was crucial if Steve Clarke's side are to reach the knockout stages for the first time.
“It doesn't happen very often. When you're told it's a must-win game and you win it, then the players deserve a lot of credit for that. They deserve to be the team that's finally got another win on the board in the World Cup,” Clarke said.
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U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that there is a good chance” of reaching a deal with Iran, but warned that Washington would resume military operation if negotiations fail.
Iran will halt its own attacks as long as the United States maintains its pause on strikes, but Tehran remains sceptical of U.S. intentions, a senior Iranian source told on Sunday.
The Russia-Ukraine war is increasingly reshaping the Caspian region. From threats to energy infrastructure to renewed diplomatic efforts, countries across the region are adapting to the wider consequences of a conflict that continues to disrupt trade, transport and security.
A New York school district has put plans to introduce a humanoid robot into classrooms on hold after fierce criticism from teachers, Indigenous community members and state education officials over the use of artificial intelligence in schools.
Yemen warned the Houthis were seeking to replicate Iran's Strait of Hormuz strategy in the Red Sea, as U.S. President Donald Trump said there was a "good chance" of a deal with Tehran but warned strikes could resume if talks failed.
The diplomatic dispute over France's overseas territories is widening, with pro-independence leaders in the Caribbean and the Pacific rejecting claims by French lawmakers that Azerbaijan is interfering in France's internal affairs.
U.S. diplomats walked out of a UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine after accusing France of making "disingenuous grandstanding" by comparing Washington with North Korea, Russia and other authoritarian states.
Meteorologists in China have used a swarm of drones to observe Typhoon Noul as it passed through Guangdong province, aiming to improve weather monitoring and forecasting during extreme storms.
Tehran has stressed that its commercial vessel hit by a Ukrainian drone in the Caspian Sea on Saturday was carrying only civilian cargo and vowed to respond appropriately while holding Kyiv responsible for the attack.
Since 1946, nine people have served as UN Secretary-General, the closest thing the world has to a chief diplomat. The role carries no army and little hard power, yet its occupants have shaped how nations respond to war, famine and global crises. Here are five who left the deepest mark.
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