GENEVA — Almost every World Cup matchup has a storyline of a player who could have represented another country.
Example A: Folarin Balogun, who scored twice in the U.S. men’s soccer team’s opening win over Paraguay. He chose to play for the U.S., where he was born, instead of England, where he grew up, or Nigeria, where his parents came from.
Or how about Yasin Ayari, who picked Sweden over his father’s native Tunisia, a decision that came into focus as the Swedes defeated the North African team 5-1 with two goals from Ayari.
And there’s Ayyoub Bouaddi, an 18-year-old standout who switched national teams from France to Morocco just weeks before the 48-team tournament kicked off.
The 2026 World Cup, being co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States, is the biggest melting pot in the tournament’s history. Decades of migration are reflected in the rosters of major European teams such as England, France and Germany. Meanwhile, many teams in Africa and the Caribbean rely heavily on their diaspora, made easier by a relaxation of FIFA’s eligibility rules.