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More than 4000 people, mostly members of Melbourne’s Turkish community, enjoyed a family day out to watch the World Cup game between Turkey and Australia on a big screen.
Kebabs sizzled on hotplates, Turkish pop songs rang out from speakers, and it was a sea of red and white flag colours at Nasiol Stadium in Broadmeadows, in Melbourne’s northern suburbs.
Friends caught up, kids played among the stands and on the soccer pitch stood a giant screen broadcasting the match live from Vancouver, Canada.
The only thing missing, for many, was a Turkish victory.
Throughout the match there were countless excited roars and people rising from chairs, ready to cheer as Turkish players brought the ball forward before being thwarted by missed goals or Australian defenders.
When the underdogs claimed a 2-0 victory, the crowd looked a little stunned.
Ali Ozdemir, from Broadmeadows, said the Socceroos had “parked the bus” – given a strong line of defence the Turkish players couldn’t break through.
Ozdemir, who came to Nasiol Stadium with his wife Ayse and 12-year-old daughter Beren, said Turkey had “underestimated the Australians” and the Socceroos defended “really well”.
“It was a good day out. But it would have been good to see a draw – you want both Turkey and Australia to go to the knockout games,” Ozdemir said.
“And there’s two more games to go so we’ll see how we go. It’s not yet over.”
In Melbourne’s Federation Square, an ecstatic crowd basked in wan winter sunlight and triumph.
Melbourne Arts Precinct director and chief executive Katrina Sedgwick, who oversees the square, said last month that no matches would be aired, due to inappropriate fan behaviour at previous viewing sessions, which included more than 120 flares or fireworks being lit during a 2023 semi-final match between the Matildas and England.
After swift backlash and public pressure, Premier Jacinta Allan reversed the decision, saying, “There’s always a risk of bad behaviour from a few dickheads … but police and security will be on site”.
Allan’s decision to pull rank proved to be the correct call on Sunday, as an ecstatic crowd celebrated the Socceroos’ 2-0 triumph.
Socceroos supporter Joel, who attended with his partner, Tanisha, said the decision to reverse the ban had been vindicated.
“It just shows you can have events, and it’s just fine. They could have fit a whole lot more people in too,” he said.
Fed Square was declared at capacity shortly after 1pm with a 7000-strong crowd, and spillover fans were redirected to AAMI Park.
The crowd skewed young and male, but the mood was inclusive. Young families and a smattering of Turkish supporters were also welcome.
Despite the bag checks and a large security presence, some fans did succeed in smuggling in flares. Clouds of acrid orange smoke filled the air just before kick-off, and again after Nestory Irankunda’s first-half goal.
Back in Broadmeadows, while most wore the Turkish colours, there was still a strong sentiment for Australia – the home they, or their parents, had migrated to.
Berna Erkan, of Roxburgh Park, her husband, Ceyhun, and their son Aren, 6, painted their faces in the Turkish red and white, but Erkan said she was “split in two” about whom to barrack for.
“We are both Turkish and Australian, so our hearts are split in two,” she said.
The last time Turkey qualified for the World Cup, in 2002, Erkan was 12 years old.
She remembered the excitement of that time – going to a shopping centre in Dallas, in Melbourne’s north, and watching the game with her family and members of the Turkish community.
On Sunday, she said she was happy her son had a similar experience.
Ahmet Arikan, 45, of Greenvale, waved a Turkish flag while an Australian flag was draped over his shoulders.
Arikan, who was born in Australia to Turkish immigrants, said he was barracking for both teams.
“Why? Because I’m an Australian and a Turk at the same time,” he said. “I respect Australia as my home country, but I’m a Turk as well. So why not?” he said.
Former Matildas player and Olympian Selin Kuralay said events like Sunday’s broadcast could inspire children to want to play for Turkey or Australia.
Kuralay said watching the Australian women’s team play in the 2000 Olympics “is what made me think ‘I want to be a Matilda’”.
