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FIFA has made changes to international eligibility, allowing players who have played fewer than four competitive matches to change countries.
At today’s virtual congress, the member associations approved the rule change, which allows players to switch national teams once to another country for which they are eligible, provided they have not played more than three matches for their starting national team. , and all before turning 21 years old.
Appearances in a World Cup final or confederation final like the Euro would prohibit a player from switching, but appearing in tournament qualifying matches would not disqualify him.
National eligibility has been a hot topic in Ireland in recent years, with players like James McClean and Shane Duffy traded to the Republic after representing Northern Ireland as a minor.
Jack Grealish and Declan Rice switched their allegiances from Ireland to England, the country they were born in, and Rice won three internationals for Ireland in 2018, but none in competitive games.
At the time, appearing in a Nations League or senior qualifying match would have linked the player to that country.
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