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Hard Decisions Ahead for Red Bull New York
With the World Cup coming and taking over the news in the tristate area, some players will have to make key decisions about which national teams they will represent.
To anyone who has questions about eligibility for a national team, FIFA defines it as if the player has:
- Citizenship in the country that they wish to represent
- Biological parents who were born in the country that they wish to represent
- Biological grandparents who were born in the country that they wish to represent
- Lived in the country that they wish to represent for a period of more than five years continuously after turning eighteen
- Not represented another nation in three friendly games after turning twenty-one, or played in a tournament with another (for instance, if a player plays for Costa Rica in the Gold Cup and then tries to switch FIFA nationality to the United States, he would be ineligible for the United States as he would be captained to Costa Rica)
In summary, these rules are for players who aren’t from the home nations (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, or the Republic of Ireland) or those who are from territories (such as Puerto Rico, Martinique, Guadaloupe, French Guiana, Curaçao, Guam, American Samoa, US Virgin Islands, Aruba, Cook Islands, and many more).
While complicated, Red Bull has fourteen players who will have to make a choice soon.
Players Who Have a Choice Between the USMNT and Another
This list is dominated mainly by starters, with two who play for Red Bull II.
Poland and the United States
This is a very short list, though it is the largest number of players who could represent the United States and another Football Association. These two players are Tobias Szewczyk and Julian Hall. Szewczyk, 17, is a goalkeeper who currently plays for Red Bull II and has been called up to the US U-17 camp. But that is not the only player in this camp: Hall, an undisputed starter for the first team. The Polish FA has also contacted Hall to see if he would play for them instead of the Stars and Stripes.
There is no doubt that if Poland had qualified for the World Cup, it would most likely force Mauricio Pochettino to make a decision, as the call from Poland could be very appealing.
Home Nations and the United States
This is the largest list of players with a choice. But why does Poland have more players? Basically, because there isn’t a Federation that encompasses the whole of the United Kingdom, but because they are the oldest federations in the world, they operate independently.
England and the United States
This only excludes Aiden Stokes, who hasn’t played for the main team but has been called up to the US U-17 national team.
In the past, he has also played for the English and Welsh U-17 teams.
Scotland and the United States
This is mainly about Cam Harper. Harper has played for the US U20 team, but could have played in this World Cup had he not been injured last year.
Mexico and the United States
This is a very interesting list, as starting wingers in the first team are eligible to represent either El Tri or the Stars and Stripes.
Cade Cowell, who needed to be Mexican to play for Chivas, has already played for the United States National Team. In contrast, Jorge Ruvalcalba did the opposite, playing for the Mexican National Team.
Albania and the United States
Adri Mehmeti is the only one in this camp, and he has represented both in the youth ranks.
This doesn’t leave him captivated, and it opens the door to playing for Albania and the USMNT. He could play with Anis Mehmeti, with whom he shares a last name.
Brazil and the United States
Matthew Dos Santos has a choice and has been called up for the US U-17 team.
Trinidad and Tobago and the United States
Roald Mitchell was eligible to play for the United States, but he became captivated by the Socca Warriors after playing with them in past World Cup Qualifiers.
Canada and Jamaica
In this choice, the only one is Jakheele Marshall-Rutty, who has already chosen to play for the Maple Leafs instead of Jamaica.
Argentina and Italy
Nehuén Benedetti has a choice between Argentina and Italy
Germany
In this, three players are eligible to play for Die Mannschaft. These two are Eric Maxim-Chupo Moting, who lost it while playing for Cameroon in a World Cup Qualifier, and Robert Voloder, who is eligible for both Germany and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Justin Che also has eligibility, but lost it after playing for the Stars and Stripes.
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