Behich Says Wife’s Cancer Battle Puts World Cup Into Perspective

Aziz Behich, Australia’s veteran defender, says the 2026 World Cup opener against Turkey will carry special meaning because of his family ties and Turkish-Cypriot roots. The 35-year-old, who has played in two previous World Cups, expects to feel one kind of emotion when Australia’s anthem plays, and another when Turkey’s anthem follows at BC Place in Vancouver.

Born in Melbourne, Behich grew up following Turkish football closely and regularly watched the Turkish league as a child. Most of his club career was also spent in Turkey, especially with Bursaspor and Istanbul Basaksehir, where he won a league title. Despite that background, he has never faced the Turkey national team before. “It’s going to be a little more special to play against Turkey,” he told AAP. “I have a few friends in their squad, and of course my family background and my parents will be in the stands. I think it will really hit me when the anthems start and you see one side in red and one side in yellow.”

Behich said his parents, Yasar and Gamaliye, along with uncles, his sister, brothers-in-law and his wife Rosa, will be in the crowd. He said he does not know what the future holds for him or his family after this tournament, but they have supported him throughout his career and have attended every World Cup he has played in.

He said Rosa’s presence at a third straight World Cup is especially emotional after she was diagnosed with lymphoma following the Qatar World Cup. She is now in remission. “It puts life into perspective,” Behich said. “Before that, even when I was married, everything was football. Today, when I wake up with aches, I can’t complain after seeing what she went through. She gives me strength. No matter what she faced, the cancer, the chemotherapy, she always supported me and made sure I kept playing. She was with me at every World Cup, and I’m grateful to have someone like that by my side.”