Australia forward Nestory Irankunda, who scored his country’s opening goal at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, made his international debut against Bangladesh national football team exactly two years ago this month.

The young winger first stepped onto the international stage in Dhaka during Australia’s World Cup qualifying campaign. Two years later, he found the net on football’s biggest stage, completing a remarkable rise from international debutant to World Cup goalscorer.

The connection offers a unique footnote for Bangladeshi football fans. A match that may have seemed routine at the time is now linked to a significant moment in World Cup history, as Bangladesh happened to be the first international opponent in Irankunda’s senior career.

From making his debut in Dhaka to scoring at the World Cup, Irankunda’s journey highlights the rapid progression of one of Australian football’s brightest talents and serves as a reminder that future stars can emerge on any stage, often before the wider football world takes notice.