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The 2022 FIFA World Cup is just over a year away, with some of football's biggest names set to feature in the biggest stage of world football. While we will get to see the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe in the blockbuster event, many world-class players might miss out due to an abundance of talent in their national teams' ranks.
A case in point is the French national team, which can potentially field two world-class starting XIs. FIFA rules (Article 9 of FIFA's Regulations Governing the Application of the Statutes) regarding changing nationalities allow players to represent countries of descent or their native lands, provided they obtain citizenship of that country.
There are a few conditions that need to be met for a player to be eligible to switch nationalities, though. Some of these conditions warrant that a player has to be born in the territory of the relevant association, or one of his biological parents should be born in the territory of the said country.
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On that note, here's a look at five players who might need to switch nationalities to kickstart their international careers.
#5 Wesley Fofana | France to Cote d'Ivoire
After just one season in English football, Wesley Fofana has established himself as one of the most promising centre-backs in the Premier League.
The 20-year-old made the move to Leicester City on a £31.5 million move from Saint-Etienne. He earned the big-money move after just one full season in St. Etienne's senior setup. After witnessing his breakthrough debut season in the 2020-21 campaign, it's safe to say the Foxes have unearthed yet another gem.
In international football, Wesley Fofana has donned the blues of the France U21 national team. He has made three appearances for the youth team in the UEFA U21 Championship and UEFA Euro U21 qualification. However, Fofana will have to remain patient if he wants to break into the senior French setup.
According to Transfermarkt, Fofana holds dual citizenship of France and Cote d'Ivoire. Considering the abundance of centre-backs in French football, Fofana will perhaps get more playing time and opportunity to shine with Cote d'Ivoire.
#4 Ilaix Moriba | Spain to Guinea
La Masia academy product Ilaix Moriba is eligible to represent both Spain and Guinea in international football.
Moriba is one of the more probable players to switch his nationality, as recent reports have revealed the youngster's desire to represent his country of birth. The 18-year-old has been in the news in Catalonia following a contractual standoff with his boyhood club Barcelona.
According to Spanish outlet AS, Moriba's father met with representatives from Guinea and emphasised his son's wish to play for his African homeland. The young midfielder was born in Conakry, Guinea, but moved to Spain as a young kid, eventually earning Spanish citizenship. Moriba represented La Furia Roja's U17 and U18 sides.
If the rumours are to be believed, Moriba could be in contention for a spot in the Guinea national team in their upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Morocco and Guinea-Bissau.
#3 Pascal Struijk | Netherlands to Belgium
Leeds United centre-back Pascal Struijk might want to consider representing his home country of Belgium, where he could become a central player in defence in the coming years.
Some of the centre-backs in Belgium's current squad include Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld and Thomas Vermaelen. They are all 32 or above, so the Belgian backline is bound to witness a change of guard in the next few years. Pascal Struijk, though, currently represents the Netherlands in international football.
The 22-year-old has made three appearances for the Netherlands U17 team, but is yet to make his way into the senior setup. The Dutch have a problem of plenty in defence, especially at the centre-back position. The players currently in contention for that spot are Virgil Van Dijk, Matthijs de Ligt, Stefan de Vrij, Nathan Ake and Daley Blind.
The likes of Jurrien Timber and Perr Schuurs are upcoming talents who could make the centre-back position their own in the Dutch outfit. With such tough competition for limited spots, Struijk might want to try his luck in Belgium in the near future.
#2 Michail Antonio | England to Jamaica
Michail Antonio has established himself as one of the most consistent forwards in the Premier League over the past few years.
The 31-year-old is off to a flying start in the 2021-22 Premier League season, racking up three goals and two assists in two matches. Antonio has registered a 10-goal campaign in the last two Premier League seasons, but is yet to make his international debut for England.
The West Ham centre-forward has come agonisingly close to making his England debut twice. Antonio was an unused substitute in England's 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier. A hamstring injury forced him to pull out of Gareth Southgate's team for their matches against Germany and Lithuania, though.
Antonio, earlier, rejected the opportunity to represent Jamaica, but recently expressed a desire to help the Reggae Boyz qualify for their second FIFA World Cup in 2022.
The Athletic recently confirmed that he has obtained a Jamaican passport. However, the centre-forward was not eligible for selection in Jamaica's most recent squad for the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup after failing to secure a passport on time.
#1 Aaron Wan-Bissaka | England to Congo DR
Manchester United's Aaron Wan-Bissaka is undoubtedly one of the best defensive full-backs in the Premier League, even though there's a lot to be desired of his offensive output.
Despite his deficiencies in the attacking third, Wan-Bissaka is one of the most talented full-backs in the continent. But he's struggling to make his international debut. The 23-year-old had his first taste of international football with the DR Congo U20 side, and changed his nationality after just one match for his country of descent.
Wan-Bissaka played five matches across England's U20 and U21 sides, but could have a tough time breaking into the senior setup. The English have plenty of world-class full-backs in their arsenal, including Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, Reece James, Luke Shaw and Trent Alexander-Arnold, to name a few.
In such a scenario, the Englishman might want to shift allegiances and don the colours of DR Congo in the upcoming tournaments. Wan-Bissaka could become a central figure for the Congo side, and will have the opportunity to excel in the international arena.
