BERKELEY, California — With a week to go until the FIFA World Cup, the Socceroos staged a media session at their hotel in the hills of Berkeley where Mohamed Touré, 22, emerged as one of the most in-demand players. Touré moved between interviews late into the session while teammates Tete Yengi and Nestory Irankunda playfully tried to distract him, a scene that underscored how long the trio have known one another.
Touré and Irankunda first met playing school sports in Adelaide after arriving in South Australia as refugees — Touré from Conakry, Guinea, and Irankunda from Kigoma, Tanzania. Their friendship continued through park football and into the professional ranks at Adelaide United, where both featured before progressing to the national team. Yengi, who did not play for the Reds, said he has known Touré since childhood despite a five-year age gap with 20-year-old Irankunda.
“That’s the best part about it, to be able to be here with guys that I’ve known from when I was younger,” Irankunda told ESPN, adding that the players had “come up together” and that their friendship is “very, very close.” The comments highlighted the personal connection behind a youthful Australian side preparing for the tournament.
Australia will send one of its youngest squads to the 2026 World Cup, with 17 players appearing at the tournament for the first time and eight members of the 26-player roster aged 23 or younger, according to ESPN. Head coach Tony Popovic has signalled the younger players will be given opportunities now, and several are expected either to start or be used off the bench when Australia opens against Türkiye in Vancouver on June 13.
Both Touré and Irankunda have attracted heightened attention beyond Australia’s traditional football community. That focus prompted interventions from former coach Graham Arnold and Popovic to limit access to the two, seeking to manage the pressure and expectations surrounding the pair, according to ESPN.
