Socceroos forward Nestory Irankunda has opened up about the frustration felt within the Australian national team after One Nation leader Pauline Hanson used the squad to bolster her controversial claims about Australian society during this year's World Cup.
The comments arose in the aftermath of Australia's opening group-stage victory over Turkey in Vancouver, a match in which Irankunda scored the Socceroos' first goal of the tournament. Days later, Hanson delivered a National Press Club address in which she argued that Australia should not be considered multicultural and instead ought to function as what she termed a "monocultural society." When challenged on whether the diverse, migrant-heavy Socceroos squad undermined her position, Hanson responded by claiming the team actually embodied her vision, stating: "The Socceroos represent my vision of a monocultural Australia."
Speaking to ABC radio, Irankunda said the remarks struck a nerve throughout the squad. "It did make a lot of us boys angry – I won't lie," he said. "I felt a bit emotional but then tried to forget about it."
The 20-year-old, who was born in a refugee camp in Tanzania to parents of Burundian origin, emphasized his identity as an Australian and expressed disappointment that such comments could resonate given the platform the national team holds for young fans. "I always tell people I'm Australian, and it really did upset me, and it upset a lot of the other boys to see things and hear things like that, especially because there's so many young blokes that look up to us," he said.
Irankunda's rise has been one of the standout stories to emerge from Australia's World Cup campaign. Following his performances in North America, he completed a big-money move to Portuguese giants Sporting CP, in a transfer reportedly worth up to $32 million.
He is not alone in his background among the current generation of Socceroos. Teammate Awer Mabil, who was named Young Australian of the Year in 2023, was also born in a refugee camp — his in Kenya — to South Sudanese parents. After Australia's exit from the tournament, Mabil bluntly dismissed Hanson's characterization of the country, labeling her comments