They fled war as child refugees, now they’re playing at World Cup 2026
In Vancouver, during the opening week of the 2026 edition of FIFA’s global football showpiece, Nestory Irankunda became the youngest player to score for Australia at a World Cup. The 20-year-old celebrated the effort in the 2-0 victory against Turkiye by punching the corner flag, his tribute to Australian great Tim Cahill. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list The celebration did not show what came before it: a refugee camp in Kigoma, Tanzania, where Irankunda was born after his parents fled Burundi’s civil war. Two of his teammates carry a version of that same story onto the same pitch. Across the largest World Cup staged with 48 nations, hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States, at least nine players carry a refugee or displacement story. Together with others, they were brought together last month by the UN refugee agency under a campaign called the Gamechanging Team. The UNHCR says 117 million people are displaced worldwide, including almost 49 million children. UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Barham Salih, called this World Cup “an ideal moment… to send a message of hope to fans all over the world,” in the same May statement that announced the Gamechanging Team. For the players who share painfully similar pasts, that message plays out across more than a hundred matches this summer, in front of the largest audience football has ever drawn. Here are those nine of the players who reached the finals – along with two more who missed out – and where their stories come from. Alphonso Davies — Canada Canada’s Alphonso Davies prior to the 2022 World Cup match with Croatia in Qatar, Nov. 27, 2022. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) Davies was born in 2000 in Buduburam refugee camp, Ghana, after his parents fled Liberia’s civil war; the family resettled in Edmonton, Canada, when he was five. In March 2021 he became the first footballer named a UNHCR Global Goodwill Ambassador. “Whilst the refugee camp provided a safe place for my family when they fled war, I often wonder where I would have been if I had stayed there,” he said in the statement UNHCR released announcing his appointment. “I don’t think I would have made it to where I am today.” Davies now captains Canada, one of three co-host nations alongside Mexico and the US — who qualify automatically. Advertisement Mohamed Toure — Australia Australia’s Mohamed Toure celebrates after the group-stage match against Turkiye [Albert Gea/Reuters] Toure was born in a refugee camp in Conakry, Guinea, in 2004, after his family fled an attack on their hometown in Liberia and spent 14 years waiting to be resettled. “Our town was attacked by a group of men and we had to flee,” his father, Amara, told Football Australia’s YouTube channel, in comments reported by ITV News Anglia on June 12, 2026. The family settled in Adelaide, Australia. Now Australia’s starting striker, Toure told Football Australia around the same time: “If my dad can go to work and say: ‘Yeah, my son played at the World Cup’… that makes me happier than me playing in a World Cup”. Awer Mabil — Australia Australia’s Awer Mabil after the match against Tunisia [Annegret Hilse/Reuters] Mabil was born in Kakuma refugee camp, Kenya, after his South Sudanese parents fled civil war, and was resettled in Adelaide aged ten. He scored the penalty that sent Australia to the 2022 World Cup and co-founded Barefoot to Boots, a charity supplying football gear to children still living in Kakuma. “Everything is possible… so keep going,” he told the Philippine outlet Sunstar during Refugee Week in June 2026. Nestory Irankunda — Australia Nestory Irankunda celebrates scoring Australia’s first goal of World Cup 2026 [Lee Smith/Reuters] (Reuters) Irankunda was born in a refugee camp in Kigoma, Tanzania, after his parents fled Burundi’s civil war. “My older sister was sick and they were close to leaving her behind, but my dad couldn’t do it,” he said in an interview this month with beIN Sports describing his family’s escape. Of his World Cup goal against Türkiye: “It is unreal and a dream come true”. Ermedin Demirovic — Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Ermedin Demirovic celebrates after playing Qatar [Blake Dahlin/Reuters] Demirovic was born in Germany, where his father settled after fleeing Bosnia during the Balkan war. He chose to represent Bosnia and Herzegovina rather than Germany. “To now represent Bosnia and Herzegovina at only its second-ever World Cup makes me incredibly proud,” he said in the statement UNHCR released in May launching its Gamechanging Team campaign. Asmir Begovic — Bosnia and Herzegovina Asmir Begovic in action in the UEFA Champions League during his time with Chelsea [John Sibley/Reuters] Begovic fled Bosnia at four, first to Germany, then to Canada, where he learned the game. He played at Bosnia’s first World Cup in 2014 and remains part of the squad for its second. “I get flashbacks every once in a while travelling in the car,” he said in a 2022 interview with Goal.com. “Nobody felt sorry for us, and you couldn’t feel sorry for yourself.” Advertisement Antonio Rudiger — Germany Germany’s Antonio Rudiger plays for Real Madrid in Spain [Piroschka Van De Wouw/Reuters] Rudiger was born in Berlin – not in a camp, but to a mother who fled Sierra Leone’s civil war in 1991 and settled in Neukolln, a district he described in a 2020 interview on Chelsea FC’s official site as “a tough area where mostly refugees grew up.” “My parents came to Germany from Sierra Leone to seek safety and a better future,” he said in the same UNHCR statement that introduced the Gamechanging Team in May. “Representing Germany is a full circle moment for me.” Ali Al-Hamadi — Iraq Norway’s Erling Haaland is challenged by Iraq’s Ali Al Hamadi [Pilar Olivares/Reuters] Al-Hamadi was a baby when his family fled Iraq in 2003, spurred by the jailing of his father for joining a peaceful protest against Saddam Hussein. Upon the release of his father, who was studying to
Why Accra slavery reparatory justice meeting matters
A conference on slavery and reparatory justice held in Ghana’s capital last week is still resonating across Africa and the Caribbean, feeding into global debates on historical accountability, reparations and inequality. At Christiansborg Castle, also known as Osu Castle, a historic fortress overlooking the Atlantic Ocean that served as a holding point for enslaved Africans before they were shipped across the Atlantic, actors and students re-enacted scenes from the slave trade, retracing part of the journey endured by millions of African men, women and children. The three-day “Next Steps” conference brought together heads of state, policymakers, academics, legal experts, civil society groups and representatives of the African diaspora to discuss the long-term consequences of the transatlantic slave trade and ways to advance reparatory justice. The meeting came just months after the United Nations General Assembly adopted a landmark resolution recognising the trafficking of enslaved Africans and racialised chattel slavery as among the gravest crimes against humanity. The resolution, backed by 123 countries, was the first in the UN’s history dedicated exclusively to slavery and the transatlantic slave trade. The Accra gathering produced a 19-point framework calling for formal apologies from countries and institutions that profited from slavery, the creation of reparations mechanisms, the return of cultural artefacts and human remains, debt relief, educational initiatives and stronger international cooperation. Advertisement “The enduring consequences of slavery continue to manifest through structural inequalities, economic disparities, systemic racism, cultural erasure and development challenges,” the conference outcome document said. “The Accra meeting on reparatory justice was not an end in itself but a crucial milestone in a longer journey,” Nana Dwomoh-Doyen Benjamin, executive director of the African Chamber of Content Producers (ACCP), told Al Jazeera. “It reminded us that the legacy of slavery is not just historical, but its ripple effect continues to shape present-day inequalities in wealth, development, and access to global financial systems,” Benjamin said. “However, for these conversations to translate into meaningful change, Africa must also prepare its own systems to receive and protect the diaspora and investments it is calling home. “The recommendations from Accra must now be matched with concrete institutional reforms, including stronger protections for diasporans who return to the continent, and a deliberate strategy to use Africa’s creative industries as a vehicle for reparation advocacy and narrative control,” he added. A West Africa and Sahel political and security risk analyst, Mubarak Aliyu, told Al Jazeera that “The Accra meeting revives the focus on the important question of reparation in financial terms, restitution of looted cultural artefacts, and the education of Africans on the horrors of the Atlantic slave trade.” Calls for accountability Among the countries most frequently mentioned in reparations debates are Portugal, Britain, France, Spain and the Netherlands, all of which played major roles in the transatlantic slave trade. Historians estimate that Portugal transported more enslaved Africans across the Atlantic than any other European power, accounting for roughly two-fifths of the trade, while Britain became a dominant force during the 18th century. France, Spain and the Netherlands also profited extensively from slave-trading networks and plantation economies in the Americas. Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, attends the opening of the Slavery Reparations Conference in Accra, Ghana [Reuben Ekow Quansah/AP] Calls for reparations have gained momentum in recent years, particularly among African states and among nations in the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM), which has developed a reparations agenda that includes formal apologies, development support, debt relief and programmes aimed at addressing the long-term legacy of slavery and colonialism. Advertisement Responses from former colonial powers have varied. The Dutch government formally apologised in 2022 for the Netherlands’ role in slavery. France recognised slavery as a crime against humanity in 2001. Britain has expressed regret for its role in the slave trade but has not committed to reparations. While several European governments have acknowledged the historical injustice of slavery, they have generally stopped short of endorsing direct financial compensation. French President Emmanuel Macron, addressing the conference by video message, acknowledged the historical reality of slavery and said reparations should form part of an ongoing process of recognition and engagement. Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama said the conference was intended to move the debate beyond symbolism and towards concrete action. He announced the creation of three international bodies focused on reparatory justice, cultural restitution and legal affairs to help advance the agenda. Aliyu also told Al Jazeera that “While meetings like this are not new, it shows the continued effort on the part of African governments to demand accountability as a precursor for more serious demands surrounding reparations. Ultimately, for these efforts to be successful, more African countries must join the process to voice these demands through a single continental front.” A legacy that endures Supporters argue that the legacy of slavery is not merely historical. Many scholars, activists and policymakers contend that centuries of enslavement, colonialism and exploitation continue to shape patterns of wealth, development and opportunity across Africa and the African diaspora. A key argument raised at the conference was that inequalities rooted in slavery and colonialism continue to influence global economic structures today. Advocates say this legacy is reflected in persistent gaps in wealth, investment, development outcomes and access to international financial systems. The conference also highlighted growing cooperation between African and Caribbean countries, which are increasingly coordinating their positions in an effort to strengthen calls for reparatory justice on the international stage. Supporters see this alignment as a way of giving greater political weight to demands that have often struggled to gain traction internationally. From declarations to action Yet significant challenges remain. There is no international consensus on what reparations should look like in practice, with proposals ranging from financial compensation and debt relief to cultural restitution, educational investment and institutional reforms. Performers re-enact the transatlantic slave trade at Christiansborg Castle, a former slave post, during a conference on follow-up to a UN resolution on trafficking of enslaved Africans, Accra, Ghana [Francis Kokoroko/Reuters] Some observers say the Accra meeting helped push reparatory justice back
How Colombia’s traditional midwives serve as lifelines to rural communities
Quibdo, Colombia – Nohemí Manco was just 14 when she delivered her first baby. She had no choice but to step in. Her sister had gone into labour, and no one else was around. Their home, in the remote Colombian municipality of Unguía, was surrounded by dense jungle canopy, waterfalls and wildlife. But healthcare options were limited. So too was emergency transportation, not that Manco could afford it. Still, Manco knew what to do. Since childhood, she had watched her mother comfort pregnant women through humid nights and sweltering days. She learned where to cut the umbilical cord, which teas to prepare to ease the pain, and how to care for women after birth. By the time her sister’s water broke, Manco felt ready to help. “I loved it. I wasn’t even scared, although my sister was a little frightened,” Manco recalled. Four decades later, she estimates she has delivered about 1,200 babies in the coastal department of Choco — perhaps more. “When a baby starts coming, it feels like sunrise. Everything is dark, and then it’s dawn,” Manco, 53, said. “When the child arrives, it’s like joy and relief at the same time.” Manco is part of a long tradition of “parteras tradicionales” — traditional midwives — who play a central role in many remote communities across Colombia, particularly among Afro-descendant and Indigenous populations. Often the first point of care for expectant mothers in these areas, midwives monitor pregnancies, attend births and provide postpartum care. In some parts of Colombia, hospitals can be hours or even days away. The isolation leaves many pregnant women and their newborns at risk of facing complications with limited medical care. That, in turn, can be fatal. “There is a higher concentration of deaths, proportionally, in rural territories,” said Liany Katerine Ariza Ruiz, a public health researcher specialising in maternal health inequality at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá. “Midwives are therefore the main and most constant resource for rural communities.” Adblock test (Why?)
Israeli attacks on Gaza and occupied West Bank kill two, including child
Health officials at Nasser Medical Complex tell Al Jazeera a 12-year-old child was killed in al-Mawasi, Gaza. Israeli forces have continued attacks in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, killing at least two Palestinians despite an ongoing “ceasefire” in the besieged enclave. Health officials at the Nasser Medical Complex in southern Gaza told Al Jazeera that a 12-year-old child was killed and several others wounded in al-Mawasi, west of Khan Younis city, during an Israeli drone strike on Wednesday. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, since the “ceasefire” took effect in October 2025, Israeli attacks have killed at least 1,027 people and injured 3,280 others. In total, since Israel’s genocidal war began in October 2023, the cumulative number of Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks has reached 73,041, with 173,402 others wounded. The killing of the child comes a day after a United Nations commission of inquiry released a report that found that Israel’s deliberate targeting of children is part of its ongoing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. “The evidence shows that Palestinian children have been deliberately targeted and killed” by Israeli forces, Srinivasan Muralidhar, chair of the UN commission, said. “Even after the October 2025 ceasefire, children continue to be killed and seriously injured, with continued disregard by Israel for the ceasefire and for the protection owed to Palestinian children under international law.” Reporting from Gaza City, Al Jazeera’s Hind Khoudary explained that Israel had classified the area it hit in al-Mawasi as a “safe zone”. “But despite that, it has been continuously targeted,” she said. Advertisement “Israeli forces attacked a tent on Wednesday, and a 12-year-old child was killed. His name is Ahmed,” said Khoudary, detailing the strike. “At least seven Palestinians were injured in the same attack.” “According to doctors, victims of Israeli strikes are difficult to treat because Israeli authorities continue to ban and restrict medical supplies and medications into the Gaza Strip,” she added. At the same time, Khoudary said there was another attack on the western side of Gaza on Tuesday night. “So despite a ‘ceasefire’, Israeli forces continue to violate and breach the truce,” she said. Occupied West Bank Amid attacks in Gaza, Israeli forces also killed a Palestinian in the town of al-Yamoun in the northern occupied West Bank on Wednesday. The Palestinian Health Ministry reported that Israeli forces had killed with live fire Mohammed Nazem Zayed, 29, after raiding the town west of Jenin, adding that troops were withholding his body. Al Jazeera reporters said an Israeli special forces unit had stormed the town on Wednesday afternoon and surrounded a house where Zayed was located, before opening fire on him and leaving him to bleed to death. Meanwhile, the Israeli news site Walla said soldiers from the army’s Duvdevan unit opened fire and killed a Palestinian during what it called an “operational activity” in al-Yamoun. Since the beginning of 2026, at least 71 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank. Since the genocidal war on Gaza began, Israeli escalation by the army and settlers in the West Bank has killed 1,173 Palestinians, wounded 12,666, led to the arrest of about 23,000 and displaced 33,000, according to official Palestinian figures. Adblock test (Why?)
Disinfectant brand apologises after ‘toxic men’ advert backfires in China
NewsFeed Disinfectant brand Dettol has apologised after an advert in China intended to challenge sexism was accused of reinforcing it instead. Critics said the campaign objectified women, prompting a backlash and calls for a boycott. Published On 24 Jun 202624 Jun 2026 Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)
Which teams have qualified for the World Cup 2026 knockouts, round of 32?
The knockout bracket in the FIFA World Cup 2026 is starting to take shape. It begins with the round of 32, which runs from June 28 to July 3. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list What is the format and criteria for qualification, and which teams have progressed or been eliminated? What is the format of the World Cup knockouts? The top two teams in each of the 12 groups, along with the eight best third-place finishers, advance to knockouts. The knockout phase begins with the round of 32, introduced for the first time at a World Cup after the expansion of the tournament from 32 to 48 teams. Then comes the round of 16, followed by the quarterfinals, semifinals and a playoff for third place. The final is on July 19. The stage-wise breakdown of the tournament’s schedule is: Group stage: June 11 to June 27 Round of 32: June 28 to July 3 Round of 16: July 4-7 Quarterfinals: July 9-11 Semifinals: July 14-15 Bronze medal match: July 18 Final: July 19 What are the rules change for the tie-breaker criteria at the 2026 World Cup? FIFA is using head-to-head records instead of goal difference as the primary tiebreaker for teams level on points for the first time at a World Cup. Haiti, Turkiye, Tunisia, Jordan and Panama have been eliminated because they are unable to catch the third-placed teams in their respective groups, as they lost to those teams. Tie-breaker criteria for World Cup groups According to FIFA’s rules for the tournament, if two or more teams in the same group are equal on points after the group stage ends, the following criteria, in the order below, will be applied to determine the ranking: Advertisement Step one Greatest number of points gained in the group matches. Superior goal difference in the group matches between the teams concerned (head-to-head). Greatest number of goals scored in the group matches between the teams concerned (head-to-head). If the teams are still tied, the criteria below applies: Step two Superior goal difference across all group matches. Greatest number of goals scored across all group matches. Highest team conduct score (players and team officials) relating to the number of yellow and red cards obtained. If the teams somehow still cannot be separated, then the following criteria below applies: Step three The two or more teams still equal on points shall be ranked according to the most recent published edition of the FIFA world rankings. The criteria for the eight best‑ranked teams The eight best teams among those ranked third will be determined as follows: Greatest number of points gained in all group matches. Goal difference resulting from all group matches. Greatest number of goals scored in all group matches. Highest team conduct score (players and team officials) relating to the number of yellow and red cards obtained in all group matches. The two or more teams still equal on points shall be ranked according to the most recent published edition of the FIFA world rankings. The FIFA World Cup trophy is displayed during a stop of the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City on June 2, 2026 [Timothy A Clary/AFP] Which teams have reached the World Cup round of 32? (As of June 24, 03:30 GMT) ⚽️ Mexico (Group A) The cohosts were the first to qualify for the knockouts, after taking top spot in Group A with a 1-0 win over South Korea on Thursday, June 18. The Mexicans started their campaign with a 2-0 win over South Africa in a chaotic tournament opener. ⚽️ USA (Group D) The United States were the second team to punch their ticket to the knockouts, thanks to their 2-0 win over Australia that sent them on top of Group D on Friday, June 19. The USA thumped Paraguay 4-1 to kick off their campaign. ⚽️ Germany (Group E) Germany became the third team to enter the last 32 with a 2-1 win over Ivory Coast on Saturday, June 20. The Germans – who failed to get out of the group stage both at Russia 2018 and four years ago in Qatar – started their tournament with a 7-1 thrashing of Curacao. ⚽️ Argentina (Group J) Argentina sealed their ticket to the knockouts with a 2-0 victory over Austria on Monday, June 22, as Lionel Messi scored twice, becoming the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer with 18 goals. The Argentina captain also bagged his maiden tournament hat-trick in their 3-0 opening game win over Algeria. Reigning champions Argentina are guaranteed the top spot in Group J. Advertisement ⚽️ France (Group I) Pre-tournament favourites France secured a place in the round of 32 with a 3-0 win over Iraq later on Monday, as Kylian Mbappe scored a brace. The 2018 world champions beat Senegal 3-1 to kick off their tournament, with Mbappe scoring twice in that game, too. ⚽️ Norway (Group I) Norway beat Senegal 3-2 in their second game of the tournament, sealing their place in the knockouts. The Norwegians, who are back at the World Cup after 28 years, started their campaign with a 4-1 thrashing of Iraq. Norway team do the traditional rowing celebration with their fans after the match [Jeenah Moon/Reuters] Which teams have been knocked out of the World Cup 2026? ⚽️ Haiti (Group C) Haiti became the first team to be sent home packing from the World Cup after suffering a 3-0 loss to Brazil on Friday, June 19. Playing in their first tournament since 1974, they also lost 1-0 to Scotland in their first game. ⚽️ Turkiye (Group D) Turkiye soon followed suit, bowing out of the tournament after a 1-0 defeat to 10-man Paraguay later on Friday. They also suffered a shock 2-0 defeat to Australia in the first group match – their first appearance at the tournament after 24 years. ⚽️ Tunisia (Group F) Tunisia became the third team to be eliminated after they lost 4-0 to Japan on Saturday, June 20. The defeat came shortly
Prada plays a part in designing NASA’s lunar mission spacesuits
NewsFeed NASA astronauts are planning to return to the moon in 2028 wearing new spacesuits designed with more safety features, greater mobility and high fashion. The suits are developed by Axiom Space in Houston, which has partnered with Prada for the Artemis mission. Published On 24 Jun 202624 Jun 2026 Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)
Why do the UK’s prime ministers keep resigning?
Keir Starmer is the latest to step down, after less than two years in office. From a landslide victory in 2024 to a remarkable downfall this week. Keir Starmer is quitting. He’s the sixth British prime minister to step down in the last decade. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list His resignation came one day before the anniversary of the vote to leave the European Union. Many say Brexit has been one of the main drivers behind the leadership crisis. Others point to increasing public discontent over successive governments. Starmer’s departure will set in motion a contest to replace him as head of the Labour Party and PM. But will his replacement be able to succeed where so many other prime ministers have failed? Presenter: Imran Khan Guests Jennifer Nadel, Co-founder of the cross-party think-tank Compassion in Politics Tim Bale, Professor of Politics at Queen Mary University of London Zaid M Belbagi, Managing Partner at Hardcastle Advisory Published On 23 Jun 202623 Jun 2026 Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)
Israeli forces set olive trees on fire in occupied West Bank
NewsFeed Footage shows the aftermath of Israeli forces setting olive trees on fire in the small Palestinian village of Rummanah in the occupied West Bank, northwest of Jenin. The area’s olive groves and Palestinian farmers have frequently been targeted by Israeli settlers and soldiers in recent months. Published On 23 Jun 202623 Jun 2026 Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)
Who’s being left out of the World Cup?
Can football’s biggest stage stay global as visa denials and border restrictions mount? The excitement of the World Cup has arrived in North America. But behind it have been stories of fans being denied visas, players being searched by sniffer dogs, and Iran’s team being forced to base itself outside the US. What happens when a global tournament collides with US President Donald Trump’s immigration policies? In this episode: Boima Tucker (@chiefboimah), director of operations, Africa Is a Country Episode credits: This episode was produced by Sonia Bhagat and Tamara Khandaker with Marcos Bartolomé, Spencer Cline, Jana Dabliz, Catherine Nouhan, and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Noor Wazwaz and Sarí el-Khalili. Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on X, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube Published On 23 Jun 202623 Jun 2026 Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)