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The Guardian World1 min read
Refugee who quit Bayern to create Aussie World Cup dream
TL;DR
Nestory Irankunda, a 20-year-old Watford forward, became the youngest scorer for Australia in World Cup history during their 2-0 victory over Turkey. He expressed that scoring was a dream come true.
Key points
- Nestory Irankunda scored for Australia in the World Cup
- He is the youngest scorer for the Socceroos
- Australia won 2-0 against Turkey
- Irankunda plays for Watford
- He expressed that scoring was a dream come true
Mentioned in this story
Nestory IrankundaWatford
World CupSocceroosTurkey
Figure caption,
Irankunda honours Cahill after scoring Australia opener
Nestory Irankunda may have wrote his name into Australia football history books but he was a player already creating his own remarkable story.
The 20-year-old Watford forward became the youngest scorer in the World Cup for the Socceroos when he netted their opener in a 2-0 win over Turkey in Vancouver.
"It is unreal and a dream come true," Irankunda said shortly after full-time.
But it is just the latest step on an incredible journey for the once refugee who just a year ago was learning from Harry Kane at Bayern Munich.
Irankunda was born in a Tanzania refugee camp in 2006 to Burundi parents who had fled their homeland due to a civil war.
He was still a young child when they moved to the country he now represents on the biggest stage of world football.
Irankunda found football in Australia and eventually came through the ranks at Adelaide United in the A-League.
After 16 goals and eight assists for the senior side, an eye-catching move to Bayern followed in 2024.
Figure caption,
Australia upset Turkey in World Cup opener
Bold decision to leave Bayern
There was never a first-team appearance in Germany but there was plenty of time on the training pitch with some of the best players in the world, including England striker Kane.
Yet those lack of minutes threatened his dream. That was to play for Australia at this World Cup.
He had made his debut in a World Cup qualifier in June 2024 against Bangladesh and became the second youngest scorer in the country's history when he netted against Palestine in just his second appearance.
After a loan spell at Swiss side Grasshopper last season, he had a decision to make in the summer.
It wasn't an easy one when the opportunity came to move to Watford for an undisclosed fee and leave the Bundesliga giants but he needed to play if he was to get his World Cup chance having fallen out of the Australia squad.
"It was a hard decision but obviously my biggest goal for me is to play at the World Cup," Irankunda told Sky Sports last summer, external.
"The 2026 World Cup is around the corner and I have to play minutes, I wasn't playing minutes.
"It has always been a dream of mine to play in England."
He has been called "Houdini" by team-mate Mohamed Toure and said he could have the same impact on Australia as Jude Bellingham on England.
Q&A
Who is Nestory Irankunda and what did he achieve in the World Cup?
Nestory Irankunda is a 20-year-old forward for Watford who became the youngest scorer in World Cup history for Australia.
What was the score of the match where Irankunda scored?
Australia won the match against Turkey 2-0, with Irankunda scoring the opener.
How did Nestory Irankunda feel after scoring in the World Cup?
Irankunda described scoring as 'unreal' and a 'dream come true' after the match.
What significance does Irankunda's goal hold for Australian football?
Irankunda's goal marks a historic moment as he became the youngest player to score for the Socceroos in World Cup history.
