From Balogun to Bouaddi: World Cup players face tough choice of national allegiance

Dozens, if not hundreds, of players at this World Cup are playing for a country other than the one in which they were born

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The World Cup 2026 often highlights the deeply personal choices players make regarding national allegiance, creating compelling narratives on the global stage.

Folarin Balogun , for instance, scored twice in the United States’ opening win over Paraguay. He chose the U.S., his birthplace, over England, where he grew up, or Nigeria, his parents’ homeland.

Yasin Ayari also…