Australia’s 2026 World Cup campaign will lean heavily on two players who weren’t even on the senior national team radar three years ago. Mohamed Touré and Nestory Irankunda, both products of Adelaide’s football scene and England’s Championship, have become the Socceroos’ most dangerous attacking weapons heading into the tournament.
From Adelaide to the world stage
Touré, now 22, plays his club football at Norwich City. He made his Socceroos debut on October 13, 2023, and has since accumulated 9 caps and 2 goals for the national team.
Irankunda, just 20, represents Watford in the Championship. Despite debuting later, on June 6, 2024, he’s been more prolific at international level: 14 caps and 5 goals in roughly a year of senior football.
Both players share a connection that goes beyond wearing the same national team shirt. They formed a bond growing up in Adelaide, a city that has quietly become one of Australia’s most productive football talent pipelines. That existing chemistry is exactly what coach Tony Popovic is counting on as the squad prepares for their opening fixture against Turkey on June 14, 2026.
