France vs. Morocco match is a transnational World Cup affair

Today was a great day if you are a fan of the French, who beat Morocco 2-0 to advance to the World Cup semifinals. Unless, of course, you were a fan of one of the six French-born players playing for Morocco.

Or perhaps it was a great day for Cameroon, which game-winning goal scorer Kylian Mbappé could represent through his father, if he wished. Or Algeria, which he could represent through his mother.

It was also time to celebrate in Senegal, which saw Ousmane Dembélé score for the fourth time, and which can claim Mr. Dembélé through his mother. Or Mali, which can claim him through his father.

OK. Maybe we just say it was a good day for the whole world, because this World Cup has more “world” in it than perhaps any other in history. It’s not just the increase to 48 teams from 32, though that’s a part of it. It’s the fact that players are thinking more flexibly about their nationality than ever before – and nations are eagerly waiting for those willing to play for the flag for their parents’ or grandparents’ nations than the places they were born.

In all, only six of the players for Morocco at this World Cup were actually born in Morocco. In addition to the six from France, another six hail from Spain.

This can have the scent of opportunism, with players not quite able to make the cut for their home nation accepting an invitation from a country for which they will be plenty good enough – even stars. Midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, arguably Morocco’s best player this tournament, was playing games for France’s under-21 national team as recently as this year. But in France’s five-star midfield, there was never going to be a place even for an 18-year-old as talented as Mr. Bouaddi. Both his parents are Moroccan.

But there is no doubt that switching allegiances can be far more than mercenary. Esmir Bajraktarević was born in Wisconsin and represented the United States through the youth levels of international soccer. But at this World Cup, he represented Bosnia-Herzegovina. Four of Mr. Bajraktarević’s uncles and a grandfather were killed in the Srebrenica massacre, which was later designated a genocide by the International Court of Justice.

“Srebrenica is something I will never forget,” Mr. Bajraktarević told a fan magazine of the New England Revolution, the Major League Soccer team he played for professionally from 2021 to 2024. “It’s a part of me and who I am. I carry it in my blood.”