The World Cup 2022 stars who transferred national teams

Suraj Radia

• Updated: 21 Nov 2022 17:45 GMT
• 5 min read

The 2022 World Cup is underway, with stars from all over the map having the greatest sporting honour of representing their country at the global stage.

However, many of the talent on show in Qatar could have ended up playing for different countries, with some players only recently becoming eligible to switch nations due to a change in FIFA's rules.

FootballTransfers takes a look at the players featuring at the World Cup who had previously been capped for different nations at youth and senior level but will now play in Qatar for another country.

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Declan Rice (Ireland to England)

Although born in Kingston-upon-Thames, Declan Rice had played for Ireland’s national team from the under-16 level all the way to their senior squad, gaining three caps by age 19.

He caused a stir by omitting himself from selection for Ireland before committing to England in 2019, a controversial move which he said earned him death threats from rival fans, who had earmarked him as a future Irish captain.

Jack Grealish (Ireland to England)

Another English-born star who had represented Ireland at youth level, Jack Grealish turned down the chance to play for England multiple times as a teenager before making the switch in 2015.

Grealish had yet to feature for Ireland’s senior team but moved from their under-21s side to England’s before making his full debut for the Three Lions in 2020.

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Aymeric Laporte (France to Spain)

Manchester City defender Aymeric Laporte was born in France and represented them from under-17s to the under-21s but was eligible to play for Spain after moving to Bilbao as a 16-year-old.

Laporte never made a senior appearance for France and missed out on their squad for Euro 2016, prompting him to declare his intention to play for Spain, although his citizenship wasn’t confirmed until 2021.

Inaki Williams (Spain to Ghana)

Spain have had their fair share of talents come from other nations but they lost a talented youngster in Inaki Williams, who made his debut for Ghana earlier this year.

The forward was born in Bilbao and played once for Spain in a 2016 friendly, as well as the Basque national team, but received no subsequent caps, prompting his switch to the nation of his parent’s birth.

Denzel Dumfries (Aruba to Netherlands)

Inter Milan right-back Denzel Dumfries made two appearances for the small Carribbean nation of Aruba as an 18-year-old but switched to the Netherlands In 2016.

He was described as a ‘traitor’ by the then-Aruba manager after representing Holland in Euro 2020 but he has gone on to make more than 35 appearances for the country of his birth.

Rogelio Funes Mori (Argentina to Mexico)

Rogelio Funes Mori will represent Mexico at the World Cup having become eligible to represent them in 2021 despite receiving a cap for Argentina during a friendly in 2012.

Funes Mori moved to Mexican side Monterrey in 2015 and has become their all-time top scorer, with his spell in the country allowing him to gain citizenship for the national team.

Kalidou Koulibaly (France to Senegal)

Born and raised to Senegalese parents in France, Kalidou Koulibaly was capped 11 times by the French under-20 side while playing for Metz.

Despite interest from France to represent them at senior level, Koulibaly chose to play for Senegal in 2015, expressing his desire to ‘write the story’ for them and captained his country to AFCON glory earlier this year.

Otavio (Brazil to Portugal)

Brazil-born midfielder Otavio made his debut for Portugal in 2021, having gained citizenship while playing for FC Porto, who he signed for in 2014.

Otavio had made four appearances for Brazil’s under-20 side in the 2014/15 season but never received any call-ups since, prompting his to switch to Portugal.

Eric Maxim Chupo-Moting (Germany to Cameroon

Although Eric Maxim Chupo-Moting has made nearly 70 appearances for Cameroon since 2010, the Bayern Munich striker was born in Germany and played for their youth sides.

There was some controversy over Chupo-Moting’s move as Tunisia’s Football Federation made a complaint over his eligibility for Cameroon in 2014, however it was dismissed by FIFA.

Bryan Mbeumo (France to Cameroon)

France have missed out on a number of players eligible to play for them, such is the quality in depth for the world champions, with Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo the latest to switch allegiances.

Mbeumo made his debut for Cameroon in September, the country of his father’s birth, having featured for France at the under-17, under-20 and under-21 levels.