Nestory Irankunda scored the first of two world-class goals as Australia defeated Turkey, despite Turkey dominating possession. The crowd erupted in celebration.
A Victory for Australian Exceptionalism
As One Nation surges in the polls, Bertin Huynh reflects on the outpouring of love for Irankunda, a 20-year-old refugee. Huynh notes the joy but cautions against burdening the young player with the fate of multiculturalism.
Huynh recalls comments on his previous refugee articles, where some deemed his parents the 'right kind' of refugee. Watching the World Cup match in Melbourne's Federation Square, he wondered if similar standards applied. Irankunda's goals silenced doubters, with fans chanting 'Nestory Irankunda, have my children!' and calling him a 'real Aussie'.
The Exceptionalism Trap
Huynh questions whether Australia only celebrates exceptional refugee stories. He draws parallels to Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and Bukayo Saka, who faced racist abuse after England's Euro 2020 loss. He fears that without victory, Irankunda might face similar vitriol.
One Nation's rise alarms Huynh, as Pauline Hanson scapegoats migrants for housing and cost-of-living crises. He recalls Hanson's past targeting of Asian Australians, claiming they 'swamped' the nation. Today, suburbs like Cabramatta are celebrated for their culture, but Vietnamese refugees once struggled with trauma and prejudice.
The Model Minority Myth
Huynh describes the pressure on refugees to be meek and hardworking to gain acceptance. He argues that communities are complex and deserve celebration beyond exceptional wins. While the love for Irankunda is beautiful, Huynh insists that the fate of multicultural Australia should not rest on one young athlete.
Australia faces the United States next, likely as underdogs. Huynh concludes that win or lose, those who represent Australia deserve celebration, not scapegoating.
