Arabic version: نجم السوكيروز يرفض مزاعم الثقافة الأحادية بعد الخروج من كأس العالم

Socceroo star Awer Mabil has dismissed the monoculture debate as “bullshit,” asserting that Australia is a successful multicultural society. His comments come as the national soccer team returned home following their loss to Egypt in the round of 32 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

According to ABC News, the controversy was ignited by One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, who claimed the Socceroos represented her “vision” of a monoculture. Mabil emphasized that his teammates remained focused on representing Australia, unaffected by the surrounding discourse.

Mabil, who is an Australian citizen, moved to Adelaide at the age of 10 after spending his early years in a refugee camp in Kenya. He urged against dividing people based on their backgrounds, stating, “You pick to be a good human being, yes, that’s a choice,” reinforcing the importance of embracing diversity.

In a speech at the National Press Club in June, Hanson acknowledged Australia as a multiracial society but argued it could not sustain multiculturalism, suggesting a shift towards a monoculture. Her remarks were met with criticism from various political figures, including members of both Labor and Liberal parties.

Despite the controversy, Mabil maintained that Hanson’s comments did not distract the Socceroos from their mission at the World Cup. He remarked that if anyone attempted to create divisions, they were probably not Australian themselves in a sense respectfully.