Erling Haaland: Can the Leeds-born Manchester City striker play for England at the World Cup in Qatar?

The Three Lions boss will confirm his travelling contingent for the tournament on Thursday. Given the remarkable form of Erling Haaland for Manchester City this season, it has led to some to ask if the striker is eligible to play for England.

Haaland was born in Leeds while his father Alfie Haaland was playing for Leeds United in the Premier League. In 2004, aged three, he moved to Bryne, the hometown of his Norwegian parents.

He has 18 goals in 12 Premier League appearances this season and a further five goals in four Champions League games. As the 22-year-old continues to score goals at a remarkable rate, more fans are discovering the Man City star was born in England. Which has led to the question – can he play for the Three Lions in Qatar?

Norway are not going to the World Cup but despite FIFA recently relaxing their rules on country eligibility, Haaland is unable to switch allegiances to the country of his birth.

Here, we explain why…

Can players change nationality?

Ahead of Euro 2020 last summer, Man City defender Aymeric Laporte was named in Spain's squad for the tournament. He earned 51 caps for the France at youth level, and was called up to the senior team twice but remained uncapped. In 2021, after receiving Spanish citizenship and approval from FIFA to switch national teams, Laporte became a Spanish international.

In late 2020, FIFA updated its eligibility rules to reflect a more globalised society. Footballers can change their national team allegiance once but now that decision may also be reversed in specific circumstances.

What rules apply to changing nationality?

Players can change their international side if they held the nationality with the country they want to change to ahead of their first appearance for their current country. Players must have played in no more than three competitive senior games before the age of 21 and cannot have played in a major finals with their first country.

At least three years must have also passed since the player's last senior appearance for their previous national team. The age limit of 21 does not apply to players who played their last match for their old national team before September 18, 2020, when the updated rules were introduced.

Unfortunately for those England fans hoping of a switch in allegiance from Haaland, it would not be permitted by FIFA rules. The Man City man has played 23 times for Norway, scoring 21 goals. His last caps came last month as he appeared in the Nations League. Before becoming one of Norway’s star players, he would have been able to play for England due to being born in Leeds.