Nestory Irankunda the face of the Socceroos at FIFA World Cup 2026

Nestory Irankunda still cannot believe the new face of Australian football is a young black man.

The 20-year-old is one of the hottest properties at this year's World Cup, with replicas of his number 17 shirt set to fly out the door.

If Socceroos dynamo Irankunda does something special, his profile could go next level.

But the most prominent of six players of African descent in Australia's 26-man World Cup squad is still getting his head around young black men like himself and Mohamed Toure becoming the face of the Socceroos.

"It's crazy because who would have thought?" Irankunda told AAP.

"Now that it's happening, everybody's like 'wow'. But I never thought it would be possible — maybe one day, but not this early."

Irankunda said he himself idolised Tim Cahill for his skills as a footballer and his presence as one of few people of colour in the Socceroos.

"For me, one of my people that I looked up to — I don't know if people count him as a Black person — but I'd say, Tim Cahill," he said.

"To this day, I've never met him, but that's one of my biggest dreams — to meet him and have a conversation with him — because what a player, top player."

The Socceroos have long represented Australia's multiculturalism and now, more than ever, this squad embodies the changing face of the country.

Irankunda, the son of Burundian parents, was born in a refugee camp in Tanzania before the family settled in Australia when he was a baby.

Toure (Guinea and Liberia), Lucas Herrington (Zimbabwe), Jason Geria (Uganda), veteran forward Awer Mabil and Tete Yengi (both South Sudan) all have heritage from different parts of Africa.

"It's crazy to have us all here together from African backgrounds," Irankunda said.

"It's great, and it's great for the African community."

The former teen prodigy understands the stage and opportunity the World Cup presents.

Irankunda experienced the whirlwind of joining a huge club in Bayern Munich, before moving to Watford, chasing game time.

"I have my goals and my ambitions, things that I've set for myself," Irankunda said.

"That was my main focus, my main goal, to be at a World Cup with Australia and just show myself and compete against the best of the best."

Coach Tony Popovic faces a headache on whether to unleash Irankunda from the get-go against Turkey on Saturday (Sunday AEST) or deploy him off the bench as the Socceroos attempt to shock the world.

"I just want to prove everybody wrong," Irankunda said.

"People have a lot of things to say about Australia and I want to prove them wrong because people don't rate us as much.

"We've got a big team, we've got a talented team, and it's just up to us at the end of the day how far we want to go."

Irankunda is a far more well-rounded player than the 16-year-old phenomena who burst onto the scene, at least partially thanks to Popovic.

The Socceroos boss selected Irankunda in his first camp in charge in November 2024, then did not pick him again for nine months.

Since Irankunda returned to the fold last August, he has been a fixture and has worked tirelessly with Popovic on the defensive side of his game.

"He's made me work for it. He's made me earn it," Irankunda said.

"He does so much for me that people don't even know … he's made me work hard, he's made me want to run more, defend for the team. If it wasn't for him, I'd still be a lazy player."

Now, as he showed against Switzerland, Irankunda can win challenges deep, burst forward, dribble and rely on finesse or power when shooting.

Popovic, who regularly works one-on-one with his young attacking sensation, relishes their special relationship on and off the pitch.

"I just want Nestor to be Nestor," Popovic said.

"You don't want him to lose the personality that he has while he's trying to become a better player."

That personality includes those famous free kicks — a combination of wicked spin and power.

"If we have Nestor on the pitch and we get awarded a free kick around the box, I celebrate like we have a penalty," Toure said.

Irankunda puts it down to hours of practice — and is ready to deliver on the big stage.

"People haven't seen how much hard work I'm putting in away from the cameras," he said.

"I've been working on myself for a very, very long time."

AAP