Irankunda selected for Australia’s FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers squad

Australia coach Graham Arnold has made a bold move by including 18-year-old Nestory Irankunda in his 25-man squad for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Bangladesh and Palestine. This decision comes just days after the talented winger expressed his frustration at being overlooked for selection.

Irankunda, who currently plays for Adelaide United, caused a stir in Australia last week when he hinted at the possibility of switching his allegiance to either Burundi or Tanzania. Despite facing criticism from local football pundits, Irankunda’s comments did not deter Arnold from giving him his first call-up to the Socceroos squad.

Born in a Tanzanian refugee camp to Burundian parents before moving to Australia as an infant, Irankunda is set to join Bayern Munich in July, adding to the excitement surrounding his potential.

In addition to Irankunda, Arnold has also included Melbourne Victory playmaker Daniel Arzani in the squad. Arzani, who made headlines as Australia’s youngest World Cup footballer at 19 during the 2018 tournament in Russia, will be looking to make his mark once again after a series of setbacks, including a serious knee injury.

With regular goalkeeper and captain Mat Ryan rested for the upcoming qualifiers, Arzani’s Victory teammate Paul Izzo has been given a chance to shine alongside uncapped forward Apostolos Stamatelopoulos.

Australia, currently unbeaten in the qualifiers, has already secured a spot in the third phase of Asian qualifying. However, Arnold emphasized the importance of these upcoming matches in terms of FIFA rankings and the team’s preparation for future challenges.

As the Socceroos gear up for their matches in June, all eyes will be on Irankunda and Arzani as they aim to make a significant impact on the road to the 2026 World Cup.