In association football, the situation of players being capped for two senior national teams is fairly rare. [1] [2] The list of these players includes only those who have been capped by two countries for senior matches. It does not include the far wider scope of those who have played at youth level (U23 or below) for one country then at senior level for another – something which became possible following a 2004 rule change, [3] [4] then more common when an age limit was removed in 2009 [5] – or those who were eligible for more than one country, but only played for one. [6]
In the 20th century, FIFA allowed a player to play for any national team, as long as the player held nationality of that country. In 2004, in reaction to the growing trend towards naturalisation of foreign players in some countries, FIFA implemented a significant new ruling that requires a player to demonstrate a "clear connection" to any country they wish to represent. [9] Under the rules, in order for a player to switch nationalities, a player must not have played in a competitive fixture (that is, can only have played in friendlies for the first country), [10] [11] and FIFA approval is necessary. [12]
In 2021, FIFA published a new set of rules, updating the rules for changes of nationalities. While previously, players were able to switch only if they had appeared in friendly fixture(s) for the first nation, with the growing trend of competitive fixtures such as the Nations League replacing many friendly fixtures, the change was made. Under the new regulations, players can switch national teams, even if they have played in an official competition for the first nation (unless the match was in the tournament phases of the World Cup or a continental competition), provided they played in three or fewer competitive matches and the appearance(s) occurred before the player turned 21. These changes were intended to prevent the 'stockpiling' of players. [13] [14] [15] If a player is 21 or over, the previous rule remains in place: to be eligible for a switch, any appearance(s) must have been in non-competitive fixtures.
Beginning in 2021, FIFA adjusted their rules to allow for players to be eligible to represent a new national team if they had played in no more than three competitive fixtures (including none in the tournament phases of the FIFA World Cup and continental competitions) prior to the age of 21 or if they had only played in non-competitive (friendly) matches at any age. Three years must have passed since the date of the previous competitive fixture in order for the player to be eligible to switch; there is no time requirement for friendly matches.
Between 2004 and 2020, FIFA permitted players to play for a new association if the player had only played in non-competitive fixtures (friendlies) for the original nation or if the new association was a newly-formed nation.
Prior to 2004, players could play for a new nation provided they were citizens of that country.
The Chad national football team, nicknamed Les Sao, represents Chad in international football and is controlled by the Chadian Football Federation, the governing body for football in the country. The team has never qualified for the World Cup finals or Africa Cup of Nations. Home matches are played at the Idriss Mahamat Ouya Stadium. In April 2021, FIFA banned the Chad national football team from participating in global football over the Chadian government's interference with the Chadian Football Federation.
Churchill Brothers Football Club Goa is an Indian professional football club based in Margao, Goa, that competes in the I-League, alongside Goa Professional League. Founded in 1988 in Margao, the club usually participated in the National Football League, then top tier of Indian football league system.
Football is by far the most popular sport in Paraguay. Paraguay's national team has played at eight FIFA World Cup competitions and has won two Copa América tournaments. Olimpia Asunción is the country's most successful club in domestic and international competitions. Paraguay's football leagues are divided into four divisions. In 2020, Paraguay's top-tier was ranked 8th in the world by the IFFHS.
Alain Jean Giresse is a French football coach and former player who last managed Kosovo.
Anibal Casis Godoy Lemus is a Panamanian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Major League Soccer club Nashville SC and captains the Panama national team.
Mërgim Brahimi is a Kosovan professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for FC Wil. A youth international for Albania and Switzerland, Brahimi represented the Albania national team before switching to the Kosovo national team.
Jere Uronen is a Finnish professional footballer who plays as a full-back for Major League Soccer club Charlotte FC and the Finland national team. He began his senior club career playing for TPS, before signing with Helsingborgs IF at age 17 in 2012.
Haidar Mahmoud Majid is an Iraqi football coach and former player. As a player, Mahmoud played as a right-back, representing Iraq in the 1996 and 2000 AFC Asian Cup. He also played club football with Al Zawraa for 10 years.
Suresh Singh Wangjam, is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Indian Super League club Bengaluru and India national team. He won the 2020–21 AIFF Emerging Player of the Year award. He also represented India in the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2017.
The following is a list of the India national football team's competitive records and statistics.
Issa Kaboré is a Burkinabè professional footballer who plays as a right-back or right wing-back for Premier League club Luton Town, on loan from Manchester City, and the Burkina Faso national team.
Dion Lopy is a Senegalese professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for La Liga club Almería and the Senegal national team.
Layth Ali Abdulrahim Kharoub is a Palestinian footballer who plays as a winger for West Bank Premier League club Markaz Balata and the Palestine national team.
She then became one of the rare few to represent two countries — Australia and England on the international stage.