Jason Kato Geria’s international career has been very much a slow burn. When he came on in the 73rd minute of Australia’s 2-0 group D victory over Turkey, Geria completed a huge part of his life cycle.
The 33-year-old right back, who qualified to play for Uganda through his parents, was first capped by then Australia coach Ange Postecoglou in 2016.
Geria was eligible to represent Uganda (as both of his parents had Ugandan nationality). Prior to October 2024, he had only represented Australia in friendlies, so was still eligible to represent Uganda.
‘Geria is from Maracha district. The grandfather is still alive (and) currently resides in Mvara, Arua City.’ Weekend Monitor columnist Godfrey Drabe wrote. ‘He occasionally comes to Uganda during the December holiday festivities.’
Geria played for Australia numerous times at youth level, including participating in the 2013 Fifa U-20 World Cup, and the 2016 AFC U-23 Championship.
He missed out on the 2018 and 2022 World Cup squads but got the call from Tony Popovic after his former coach at Melbourne Victory took over the Socceroos in late 2024.
Geria won his second cap eight years after his first and has since become a regular in coach Tony Popovic’s squads.
“I’m just very grateful that this opportunity has come and that I persisted in working as hard as I did for as long as I did, and believing that one day something like this could happen for myself,” he said.
“I’m still pinching myself, honestly, that I’m part of the final 26 in here in base camp and in preparing for a World Cup.”
His father Moses Geria originally shifted from Arua to Australia in the early 80s on a university exchange program. He was granted asylum during the civil war and started a family there.
Australia are benefiting from the warm embrace of immigrants. Their first goal on Sunday morning came from Nestory Irankunda.
The 20-year-old Watford forward became the youngest scorer in the World Cup for the Socceroos when he netted their opener in Vancouver.
Irankunda was born in a Tanzanian refugee camp in 2006 to Burundian parents, who had fled their homeland because of a civil war.
He was still a young child when they moved to the country he now represents on the biggest stage of world football.
Irankunda found football in Australia and came through the ranks at Adelaide United in the A-League.
After 16 goals and eight assists for the senior side, an eye-catching move to Bayern followed in 2024.