A growing number of national teams heading to the 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature players born outside the countries they represent, highlighting the increasing influence of migration and dual nationality in international football.
According to data compiled by TUDN and analyst Jaime F. Macias and verified against FIFA squad lists, Curaçao leads the ranking with 96.2 per cent of its talent born abroad.
DR Congo follows at 76.9 per cent, while Morocco ranks third with 73.1 per cent.
Algeria and Haiti each have 61.5 per cent foreign-born players, ahead of Tunisia at 53.8 per cent.
Bosnia and Herzegovina and Cape Verde both stand at 50 per cent, while Senegal and Qatar complete the top ten with 42.3 per cent and 38.5 per cent respectively.
The figures reflect how many footballers developed their careers in Europe and other regions before choosing to represent their ancestral nations.
Analysts say the trend has strengthened several teams by expanding their talent pool and increasing competition for places ahead of football’s biggest tournament.
