Being born with dual nationalities have their positive and negative sides. In terms of comfort, a player can choose between two or more countries he qualifies to represent at the International level.
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Rules Governing The Switch Of Nationality
FIFA permitted a player to represent any national team throughout the twentieth century as long as the player was a citizen of that country. In 2004, FIFA established a crucial new rule that requires a player to establish a “clear connection” to any country they seek to represent, in response to a growing trend in some countries to naturalize foreign player
According to the rules, in order to switch nationalities, a player must not have participated in a competitive match (i.e., only friendlies for the first country), and a player must not have played in a competitive match (i.e., only friendlies for the first country) as well as FIFA permission is required.
FIFA announced a new set of rules in 2021 that updated the restrictions for changing nations. Formerly, players could only swap teams if they had played in a friendly match for their home country, but with the growing trend of competitive matches like as the Nations League replacing many friendly matches, the change was made. Players can move national teams under the new rules, even if they had appeared in an official competition for the first nation (unless the match was in the World Cup or a continental competition’s tournament phases), as long as the participation occurred before the player turned 21. These adjustments were made to prevent players from’stockpiling’. If a player is over the age of 21, the prior regulation about non-competitive fixtures still applies for a change in nationality.
Players Who Could Switch Nationality
1.Callum Hudson-Odoi(England to Ghana)
helsea’s winger Callum Hudson-Odoi has opened up on his international future as the youngster has the option of playing for England or Ghana. The 21-year-old is eligible for both nations and is yet to commit fully to either country.
2.Aaron Wan-Bissaka(England to DR. Congo)
In spite of being a regular starter for the Red Devils, Wan-Bissaka, who was born in Croydon but is of Congolese descent, is yet to make a senior appearance for England and finds himself behind Kyle Walker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kieran Trippier and Reece James in the pecking order.
Former England boss Hodgson, who gave the right-back his senior debut at Crystal Palace before selling him to United for £50million in 2019, said: “I read that he’s debating whether his future should be with England or DR Congo.
“That will be interesting to see what he decides in that area. I believe he is still young and has a big international future in front of him. As an Englishman, I would rather hope England would benefit from it.”
3. Tariq Lamptey
Born in England, Lamptey is of Ghanaian descent. He is a youth international for England having represented the Young Lions from U18 to U21 level. In July 2020, the Brighton defender was contacted by the Ghana FA about potentially switching to represent Ghana internationally.
4.Inaki Williams(Spain to Ghana)
The forward has been capped just once by Spain, which makes him eligible to switch nationality to play for Ghana. Williams admitted that he loves Ghana and even speaks the Twi language, but says he will always be Basque, where he was born. “I’m grateful to where I grew and became who I am.
5. Ademola Lookman(England to Nigeria)
had his request to switch international allegiance from England to Nigeria granted by FIFA.
The move sees the winger now set to star for the Super Eagles six years on from their first approach. The 24-year-old had represented the Three Lions at youth level following his breakthrough at Charlton Athletic, helping secure the country’s first victory in the final of a global tournament since the 1966 World Cup.
He just earned a call up to the Super Eagles of Nigeria and he looks set to face Ghana in their World Cup Qualifying Match to secure their place in the Qatar 2022.
6. Trevor Chalobah (England to Sierra Leone)
Born in Freetown, Sierra Leone, Chalobah moved to England at the age of two and grew up in Gipsy Hill in the London Borough of Lambeth has maintained that he is a SierraLeonean by herat even though he has represented England from the U16 to U21.
7. .Issa Diop(France to Morocco)
Diop, born in Toulouse, to a Moroccan mother and a Senegalese father is eligible to represent the reigning world champions and the two African nations at senior level. He was part of France’s squad that won the Uefa European U19 Championship in 2016, is the grandson of Lybasse Diop – the first Senegalese to play in the French Ligue 1.
And after switching to the English Premier League this summer for a club-record fee, the former Toulouse centre-back is hoping to get a chance in Didier Deschamps’ squad in the future.
8. Demarai Gray(England to Jamaica)
Gray qualifies to represent the country by virtue of having Jamaican parents, is one of a number of footballers with Jamaican heritage approached by the JFF in recent times, as the team looks to bolster its chances of qualifying for the World Cup. Gray has earned 21 caps for the England U21 team but has never played for the senior team. He is expected to secure his passport. .
9. Junior Firpo(Spain to Dominican Republic)
Junior Firpo was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic but moved to Malaga, Spain when he was only six. The 23-year-old holds citizenships of both Spain and the Dominican Republic but has chosen to represent La Roja at the international level (four matches for the U21 team).
However, he did play for the Dominican Republic once. Back in 2015, Firpo appeared in a match against the Brazil Olympic team but it wasn’t a FIFA match thus it doesn’t count.
10. Arnaut Danjuma
Danjuma was born in Nigeria to a Dutch father and Nigerian mother, and was eligible for either national team. Danjuma earned his first full international call up when Ronald Koeman named him in the Netherlands squad in October 2018.