Nationality in football is increasingly complex and the influence of players from the diaspora has never been higher at a World Cup
“Nationality says where you come from. And I actually come from four countries: France, Algeria, Nigeria and Great Britain. I consider myself very lucky to possess these four parts, which all enrich me.” This view was given by Michael Olise. He set up seven goals at the World Cup, breaking Pelé’s record for the most assists at a single edition of the tournament. And he did so for France, one of four countries he was eligible to represent, but not the one in which he was born.
The influence of players from the diaspora has never been higher at the World Cup. Four years ago, 16.5% of the players at the tournament were born in different nations from those for whom they played. That represented a 5.1% increase on 2018 and was the previous high for the tournament. No longer. Almost a quarter (23.6%) of the 1,248 players named in squads this year were selected by countries other than their birthplace. This proportion remained broadly consistent for the contribution these players made towards the minutes played, assists provided and goals scored. In a 48-team, 104-match tournament, these are big numbers.
There were 70 goals either scored or assisted by footballers born in countries other than the one on their shirt, with a further 19 both set up and converted by such players. As much as the World Cup has never featured as many games, six of the first eight editions saw no more than 89 goals in total, regardless of whether players were born in the nation they represented or not.
Not all goals are equal, though, especially at this level. World Cup moments become embedded within the collective consciousness of nations unlike almost anything else from any walk of life. All three host countries saw players born outside their borders make significant contributions. Colombia-born Julián Quiñones delivered the opening goal of the tournament in Mexico’s 2-0 win against South Africa. He scored in a further three matches, including in both knockout games that his team played.
Malik Tillman was responsible for two goals and an assist for the USA. When he was replaced after setting up a goal against Paraguay by Gio Reyna (who went on to score), it meant a German-born player went off for one initially raised in England. Players born in the US in turn helped their neighbours. Jonathan David spent his early months in the country yet became a Canadian hero by scoring a hat-trick in their first ever World Cup win. A total of 12 players were born in one of the co-hosting nations but in the squad for another country.
North America had nothing on France, though. Seventy-four players at the World Cup were born there without being on Didier Deschamps’ roster. While no squad can touch Curaçao’s for single impact from a specific other nation – with 25 of their 26 men being born in the Netherlands – the next five largest examples of one country providing players for another saw French-born footballers representing other teams.
Chart showing top combinations of differing team and place of birth in squads at the 2026 World Cup
There were 140 combinations of birthplace and team where the two countries differed, helping to illustrate how national borders matter less than ever before in this competition. There were even siblings who proved this point, with some experiencing wildly different campaigns. Nico Williams assisted the winning goal in the final for his homeland Spain, enjoying a better tournament than brother Iñaki, who only reached the last 32. His Ghana side were helped by a goal from Derrick Luckassen, the Amsterdam-born defender whose half-brother Brian Brobbey was the Netherlands’ joint-leading scorer this summer.
The Doué brothers were born in Angers, France, though while Désiré plays for the country, Guéla represents Côte d’Ivoire. It’s a similar story in the Souttar family, with Harry (Australia) and John (Scotland) choosing different paths despite both being born in Aberdeen.
If one player sums up how the 2026 World Cup crossed borders in multiple ways like never before, it might be Nestory Irankunda. Born in Tanzania, he plays for Watford. The 20-year-old represented Australia and scored the opening goal of a victory against Turkey in Canada before he headed to Seattle to face the USA. His performances this summer have reportedly drawn the interest of Sporting, so he could be off to Portugal next.
Nationality in football has never been so complex, nor more readily blurred in international competitions.
- World Cup 2026
- World Cup
- features
