This story appears in the July 2018 issue of National Geographic magazine.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia will feature 32 soccer teams from around the world. But just because a team represents a country doesn’t mean all its players were born there. Family heritage and dual citizenship are factors that players consider when choosing which country to represent. Of the 32 teams, 25 of them fielded at least one foreign-
born player during qualification for the world’s most watched single-sport tournament.
2018 WORLD CUP NATIONAL TEAMS
National team with no foreign-born players (7 total)
National team with foreign-born players (25 total)
European
African
Asian and
Australia
South
American
North
American*
Counts of foreign-born players Taken From official matches played during qualification period.
In the lead-up to the 2018 World Cup, 209 teams from six regional confederations vied to qualify.
CONCACAF
UEFA
North America*
Europe
AFC
Asia and
Australia
CAF
Africa
CONMEBOL
South America
OFC
Oceania
*Includes Central America
and the Caribbean
In total, 97 foreign-born players competed for the 32 countries (shown here) that qualified for the 2018 World Cup.
Foreign-born player’s connection from
birthplace to World Cup team
France
Europe
Asia and
Australia
Africa
South
America
North America
Arrow width shows number of players; those with more than one player are labeled. Not shown: 35 foreign-born players who were born in countries that didn’t qualify
FRENCH CONNECTION
Thirty-five French-born players competed for other countries, such as Senegal, Tunisia, and Morocco—a legacy of French colonialism in Africa and waves
of immigration.
1 player born in Senegal
but played for France
France
13
Morocco
12
Senegal
7
Tunisia
2
Portugal
1
Argentina
Counts of foreign-born players Taken From official matches played during qualification period.
RILEY D. CHAMPINE, NGM STAFF
RESEARCH: SCOTT ELDER
Source: CIES Football Observatory
The 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia will feature 32 soccer teams from around the world. But just because a team represents a country doesn’t mean all its players were born there. Family heritage and dual citizenship are factors that players consider when choosing which country to represent. Of the 32 teams, 25 of them fielded at least one foreign-born player during qualification for the world’s most watched single-sport tournament.
In the lead-up to the 2018 World Cup, 209 teams from six regional confederations vied to qualify.
UEFA
Europe
CONCACAF
North America,
Central America,
and the Caribbean
AFC
Asia and
Australia
CAF
Africa
CONMEBOL
OFC
Oceania
South America
Foreign-born player’s connection from birthplace to World Cup team
In total, 97 foreign-born players competed for the 32 countries (shown here) that qualified for the 2018 World Cup.
National team with foreign-born players
National team with no foreign-born players
Arrow width shows number of players; those with more than one player are labeled.
7
12
2
2
2
2
Not shown: 35 foreign-
born players who were born in countries that
didn’t qualify
2
2
World Cup win
Between 1930 and 2018, 79 national teams have qualified for a World Cup tournament. Only eight have been champions.
Country
15 or more appearances
Country
7–14 appearances
6 or fewer appearances
Country
Counts of foreign-born players Taken From
official matches played during qualification period.
1 player born in Senegal
but played for France
France
FRENCH EXPORTS
Thirty-five French-born players competed for other countries, such as Senegal, Tunisia, and Morocco—a legacy of French colonialism in Africa and waves of immigration.
13
Morocco
12
Senegal
7
Tunisia
2
Portugal
RILEY D. CHAMPINE, NGM STAFF. RESEARCH: SCOTT ELDER
Source: CIES Football Observatory
1
Argentina
The 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia will feature 32 soccer teams from around the world. But just because a team represents a country doesn’t mean all its players were born there. Family heritage and dual citizenship are factors that players consider when choosing which country to represent. Of the 32 teams, 25 of them fielded at least one foreign-born player during qualification for the world’s most watched single-sport tournament.
In the lead-up to the 2018 World Cup, 209 teams from six regional confederations vied to qualify.
UEFA
Europe
CONCACAF
North America,
Central America,
and the Caribbean
AFC
CAF
Asia and
Australia
Africa
CONMEBOL
OFC
Oceania
South America
In total, 97 foreign-born players competed for the 32 countries (shown here) that qualified for the 2018 World Cup.
Foreign-born player’s connection from birthplace to World Cup team
Arrow width shows number of players; those with more than one player are labeled.
National team with foreign-born players
National team with no foreign-born players
7
12
Between 1930 and 2018, 79 national teams have qualified for a World Cup tournament. Only eight have been champions.
2
2
World Cup win
Country
2
15 or more appearances
Country
7–14 appearances
2
6 or fewer appearances
Country
Not shown: 35 foreign-
born players who were born in countries that
didn’t qualify
FRENCH EXPORTS
2
Thirty-five French-born players competed for other countries, such as Senegal, Tunisia, and Morocco—a legacy of French colonialism in Africa and waves of immigration.
2
Riley D. CHAMpine, NGM STAFF
RESEARCH: SCOTT ELDER
Source: CIES Football Observatory
Counts of foreign-born players
Taken From official matches
played during qualification period.
This summer National Geographic is partnering with FOX Sports to cover the world’s most watched single-sport tournament: the FIFA World Cup. Tune in to FOX Sports as our reporter Sergey Gordeev presents daily stories about the people, culture, and beauty of host country Russia, and read more of our World Cup stories.