They fled war as child refugees, now they’re playing at World Cup 2026
Summary
Several football players at the 2026 FIFA World Cup have backgrounds as refugees or displaced people. These players, including some from Australia and Canada, have overcome difficult pasts to compete on an international stage, with their stories highlighted by the UN refugee agency.Key Facts
- Nestory Irankunda, who scored for Australia in the World Cup, was born in a refugee camp in Tanzania after his family fled Burundi’s civil war.
- At least nine players at the 2026 World Cup share stories of refugee or displacement backgrounds.
- These players come from countries like Australia and Canada, which are co-hosts of the tournament along with Mexico and the United States.
- Alphonso Davies from Canada was born in a refugee camp in Ghana and was appointed a UNHCR Global Goodwill Ambassador in 2021.
- Mohamed Toure and Awer Mabil, both playing for Australia, also grew up in refugee camps before resettling in Australia.
- The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) created a campaign called the Gamechanging Team to highlight these players during the World Cup.
- The UNHCR states there are 117 million displaced people worldwide, including nearly 49 million children.
- The World Cup is seen by the UN as a platform to spread a message of hope for displaced people around the world.
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