World Cup 2026: Stars who could have played for England but chose others

World Cup 2026: Stars who could have played for England but chose others

The 2026 World Cup is not only about great emotions related to the play of the best national teams in the world, but also interesting facts about players who could join other national teams. England has a lot of talent in its squad, but there are also players who have chosen to represent other countries. Let's look at some of them. Erling Haaland, the Manchester City striker, is one of the most recognizable world-class players who could play for England. He was born in Leeds while his father, Alf-Inge Haaland, was playing in the Premier League. Despite this, Erling chose Norway, where he had already scored 60 goals in 53 matches. He has already scored seven goals at the 2026 World Cup and has his eye on the Golden Boot. Marvin Keller, a goalkeeper from Switzerland, was born in London, but developed his career in Swiss clubs such as Grasshoppers and Young Boys. Even though he could have played for England, he chose to represent Switzerland, for which he played in a friendly match before the World Cup. West Ham defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka also had a chance to play for England. Born in London, he played for the England U20 and U21 national team, but in 2025 he changed his footballing citizenship to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Despite being called up to the England squad earlier, injuries prevented him from making his debut.  Antonee Robinson, US soccer player, was born in Milton Keynes, but his father is from New York. Robinson chose to play for the United States in 2018 even though he could have represented England. His football career developed at clubs such as Everton, Wigan and Fulham. Scott McTominay, the Scottish midfielder, was born in Lancashire, but chose to play for Scotland. After a successful period at Manchester United, he moved to Napoli, where he won the title of best player in Serie A. He scored 15 goals in 73 matches for Scotland. Jamal Musiala, born in Stuttgart, is another footballer with dual citizenship. Even though he spent much of his childhood in England, he decided to represent Germany. He played in England's youth teams, but after transferring to Bayern Munich he decided to play for the country of his birth. These are just some of the examples of players who, despite the opportunity to play for England, chose other teams for the 2026 World Cup. Their decisions often result from personal histories and connections with different countries, which adds an additional flavor of competition on the world's largest football stage. --- ## Related Articles 1. [2026 World Cup: Italy's bitterness after the initial rounds](https://bialoczerwoni.live/pl/news/mistrzostwa-swiata-2026-gorycz-woch-po-poczatkowe-rundach) 2. [Scotland fans celebrate victory at the 2026 World Cup](https://bialoczerwoni.live/pl/news/kibice-szkocji-swietuja-zwyciestwo-na-mundialu-2026)

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Erling Haaland and for which national team does he play?

Erling Haaland is a Manchester City striker who plays for the Norwegian national team.

Why isn't Marvin Keller playing for England?

Marvin Keller, a goalkeeper from Switzerland, was born in London, but decided to represent Switzerland, developing his career in Swiss clubs.

What were the reasons for Aaron Wan-Bissaka's change of citizenship?

Aaron Wan-Bissaka, West defenderHam, changed his football citizenship to the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2025, despite previous call-ups to the England national team.

Where was Antonee Robinson born and for which national team does he play?

Antonee Robinson was born in Milton Keynes and plays for the United States national team.

What clubs did Scott McTominay represent before being selected for the national team?

Scott McTominay, the Scottish midfielder, was born in Lancashire, but details of his clubs before choosing the national team were not given in the article.

Read more on our latest coverage and stay tuned for updates on what happens next.