Binational: The World Cup drives decisive choices
With just one month to go before the start of the 2026 World Cup, several binational players have accelerated their reflection about their international careers. Long awaiting a call from the major European selections where they were trained, some have finally decided to represent the country of their origins. A trend that illustrates how the Mondial’s approach acts as a powerful decision-making accelerator.
Philemon MBALE · Author profile ·
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The 2026 World Cup as a trigger
The case of Issa Diop perfectly symbolizes this phenomenon. Trained in France and having played in all the youth categories of Les Bleus, the central defender was still hoping to join the A-side tricolor team permanently. But in March 2026, he finally accepted Morocco’s proposal. Her maternal Moroccan roots made this choice easier, while the prospect of competing in a World Cup with the Atlas Lions clearly weighed in.
Senegal also follows this dynamic with Malang Sarr. The 27-year-old defender has never hidden his attachment to his parents' country. "My parents were born in Senegal and lived there, so playing for Senegal would be wonderful," he said recently. Without publicly calling for a summons, the former French international espoir knows that context can work in his favor. With the uncertainties surrounding the physical state of Kalidou Koulibaly as he approaches the World Cup, a surprise arrival of Malang Sarr in the Lair is no longer a farfetched hypothesis.
On the DRC side, the case of Jorthy Mokio also made an impression. At only 18 years old, the young talent chose to represent the Leopards rather than Belgium. A strong choice for the future of Congolese football, which continues to convince profiles trained in Europe.
Côte d'Ivoire is accelerating its "recruitment"
Same logic for Elye Wahi. The OGC Nice striker decided last March to opt for Côte d'Ivoire. Long associated with the French youth teams, the striker from Nice now sees a real opportunity to participate in the World Cup with the Elephants, in a selection in full offensive reconstruction.
And the Ivorian federation does not intend to stop there. In the pipeline for several months, the arrival of Ange-Yoan Bonny with the Ivorian selection is now official. The Inter Milan striker, recently crowned Italian champion, will strengthen the attacking sector just before the 2026 World Cup.
Elye Wahi, Martial Godo, Kader Meïté, Ismaël Doukouré... despite a disappointing AFCON 2025 ended with a quarter-final elimination against Egypt, Côte d'Ivoire d’Émerse Faé retain strong appeal among high-potential binationals. While he was still favoring the French team a few months ago, Ange-Yoan Bonny finally decided in favor of the Elephants. The Ivorian coach had already hinted in March that the Aubervilliers native’s record was progressing very well. The officialization took place on April 30 at the Consulate General of Côte d'Ivoire in Milan, in the presence of diplomatic representatives and the player’s agent.
For his first season with Inter Milan, joined last summer from Parma, Bonny enjoyed more playing time, notably thanks to the injury of Marcus Thuram. The Franco-Ivorian striker had an excellent start to the season with four goals and four assists in his first twelve games until December, before experiencing a downturn since January. But his profile continues to seduce. Fast, powerful and able to play with his back to the goal, Bonny brings to Côte d'Ivoire a real profile of centre forward, while the selection was especially rich in wingers these last years. He will now have to win in a competition raised with Evann Guessand, Elye Wahi or Vakoun Bayo. As for Sébastien Haller, already weakened in recent months, his place at the World Cup seems increasingly threatened.
Côte d'Ivoire is also monitoring the case of Jordy Makengo. The Fribourg defender, now eligible, could quickly join the Ivorian defensive rotation. Here again, the proximity of the World Cup is pushing several African federations to speed up their administrative and sporting procedures.
Tunisia and the DRC are also on the lookout
Tunisia, she made a nice move with Rani Khedira. The defensive midfielder of Union Berlin, brother of German world champion Sami Khedira, has finally agreed to represent the Carthage Eagles. Yet, in 2018, he had refused a first approach to the Tunisian federation before the Russian World Cup. Eight years later, the situation has changed. At 32 years old, without any prospects with Germany A, Rani Khedira now sees a concrete possibility to participate in the 2026 World Cup with Tunisia, placed in group F.
A battle for influence that has become strategic
Beyond individual cases, this wave reflects an increasingly strong reality in African football. The continent’s top selections are no longer content to wait passively for the decisions of players trained in Europe. They now work on files very early, multiply contacts and rely on credible sports projects.
The World Cup then acts as a revelation. For many binationals, the equation becomes simple: continue to hope for a hypothetical convocation with an ultra-competitive European nation or seize the opportunity to compete immediately in the greatest competition of world football with the country of their origins.
And a few weeks before the 2026 World Cup, the smell of this competition seems more persuasive than ever.