VANCOUVER 12/6/2026
The Socceroos kick off their 2026 World Cup campaign against Türkiye in Vancouver on Sunday [AEST], the Ay-Yıldızlılar – the Crescent Stars – the last nation drawn into Group D, but now presenting as perhaps Australia’s most challenging opponent.
The sides hadn’t met prior to a pair of friendlies in mid-2004, and haven’t met since. Then, Türkiye were just two years on from finishing third at a World Cup, while the Socceroos were still eighteen months from breaking their decades-long World Cup qualification drought.
Fast-forward to today and Australia are preparing for a sixth-consecutive trip to football’s showpiece occasion, while Türkiye – subject to the brutal reality of European qualifiers – have not played since their famous run in Japan & South Korea, twenty-two years ago.
In the interim came the entire professional career of Ersan Gülüm. Born in Melbourne to Turkish parents, he represented Australia at U23 level before a ten year spell in the nation of his heritage, with first Adanaspor and then Süper Lig giants Besiktas. He also won seven caps for Türkiye’s national team.
‘Looking back on where I was born and raised, my youth was obviously Australian, and then I lived in my motherland country for approximately ten-to-fifteen years. I’m now back here, raising a beautiful family’, said Gülüm, who also played with two A-League clubs and is now president of Turkish-founded Victorian NPL club Hume City.
‘I guess it shows what Australia is about, bringing and uniting cultures together. Obviously when it comes to sport you have to represent either nation. My preference was originally Australia, but then it transpired that it would be Turkey, and what an honour it was to represent them.
‘This is what Australia does; it allows you the methodology to work hard, buy a home and raise children and teach them morals and values in life. That’s why I’m back, raising my family in Australia… and also, when we need to go back to Turkey for a holiday, we enjoy that time as well.’
Türkiye arrive at the World Cup with a genuine star in their ranks, who at just 21 is already building a career that could rival that of national legends Arda Turan and the ‘Turkish Delight’ Tugay Kerimoglu. Arda Güler has steadily built his minutes across three seasons at Real Madrid, and scored for his nation on his major tournament debut at the 2024 Euros.
‘The good thing for Arda Güler is that there’s an elder in that team that’s done extremely well in his football career in Hakan Çalhanoğlu. Within the Turkish mentality is looking up to their brothers, older players for experience and guidance, and he does that really well.
‘You know, I was once in that squad and when you play you’re nervous, you’re shaking, but you look to your leaders, look them in the eyes, and ask for some feedback. It settles you down, and then your quality does the talking – especially if you’re a player like Güler.
‘But it’s not just him – there’s so many different players that can turn the game on its head at any moment. It’s going to be tight, it’s not going to be a one-sided game, and will take a lot of effort to break either side down. But I just feel Turkey might have the upper hand in individual quality in the final third.’