As One Nation surges in the polls, I’m so heartened by Australia’s love for Nestory Irankunda | Bertin Huynh

We must remember he’s only 20 years old. It’s unfair to place the fate of multiculturalism on his shoulders ⚽️ How to watch the Socceroos | World Cup newsletter The last time I wrote about refugees, I kept getting a certain type of comment. That people like my parents were the right kind of refugee. The good ones. Deserving of a place in Australia. On Sunday, as I watched Australia play Turkey in the World Cup among a crowd gathered in Melbourne’s Federation Square, I wondered if the same standard would be applied. Then Nestory Irankunda scored the first of two world-class goals. Turkey, despite having possession of the ball for most of the match, lost. The crowd went wild. “Nestory Irankunda, have my children!” one fan roared. “This is for the real Aussies,” another commented under a Guardian Australia video. “Just awesome Aussies getting behind our team.” This was a moment of Australian exceptionalism. It’s part of a narrative we often hear, that our nation is the world’s most successful multicultural society. Irankunda, Mohamed Touré and Harry Souttar. Their stories as varied as the lands they come from. Exceptional stories. Exceptional talents. It mak