They fled war as child refugees, now they're playing at World Cup 2026

World Cup 2026 is giving visibility to the journeys of child refugees turned elite footballers, after Vancouver’s opening week saw Australia’s Nestory Irankunda become the youngest Australian to score at a World Cup. The 20-year-old marked a 2-0 win over Türkiye by celebrating at the corner flag, a tribute to Tim Cahill. His background traces to a refugee camp in Kigoma, Tanzania, where he was born after his parents fled Burundi’s civil war. Two teammates on the pitch share similarly displaced pasts, and the UN refugee agency brought at least nine players with refugee or displacement histories together for the Gamechanging Team. UNHCR says 117 million people are displaced worldwide, including nearly 49 million children. Barham Salih called the tournament an “ideal moment” for hope, playing out across more than 100 matches this summer involving 48 nations hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States.