Beyond Borders: France and USA showcase football’s migrant roots

One game, two national teams, but more than 20 nationalities. The United States and France — two countries that have become destinations for immigrants — have drawn on this influx to strengthen their squads.

Throughout history, both nations have been defined by their multiculturalism, something reflected in their Group E match at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Chile 2025. In fact, in the mixed zone after the game, one could hear languages other than English and French. For example, American forward Benja Cremaschi, with his Argentine accent, joyfully greeted his father, Pablo Cremaschi, and his entire family.

MULTINATIONALITY PLAYERS

On one side, 9 of the 21 players originally called up by the Team USA could easily have chosen to represent another country. Meanwhile, France called up 13 players with more than one nationality — more than half the team, as follows:

United States

· Diego Kochen – Peru and Venezuela

· Ethan Kohler – Germany and Indonesia

· Luca Bombino – Italy

· Brooklyn Raines – Liberia

· Benja Cremaschi – Argentina

· Pedro Soma – Brazil

· Marcos Zambrano – Ecuador

· Taha Habroune – Morocco

· Zavier Gozo – Ivory Coast

France

· Justin Bengui – Angola

· Tao Paradowski – Réunion

· Noham Kamara – Senegal

· Steven Baseya – Democratic Republic of Congo

· Elyaz Zidane – Spain

· Gady Beyuku – Democratic Republic of Congo

· Rabby Nzingoula – Congo

· Fodé Sylla – Guinea

· Mayssam Benama – Algeria

· Ilane Touré – Ivory Coast

· Tadjidine Mmadi – Comoros

· Moustapha David – Senegal

· Lucas Michal – Martinique

CHILDREN OF MIGRANTS

Several players in this match had dual or even triple nationality, such as goalkeeper Diego Kochen (USA, Peru, and Venezuela) or defender Ethan Kohler (USA, Germany, and Indonesia). Some inherited this status because they are the children of people who had to leave their homelands.

But there are also cases of players who acquired another nationality because they themselves left their country of origin. For instance, Brooklyn Raines, who was born in Liberia but now plays for the United States after being adopted by a family from Arizona when he was just 14 months old. Or Elyaz Zidane Fernández, son of Zinedine Zidane, who was born in France but moved to Madrid as a child, following his father, and later acquired Spanish nationality.

Finally, there is the case of Tao Paradowski, who was born on the island of Réunion, a French overseas territory with its own national team, which he could also represent.

COLONIALISM AND MIGRATION

Much of this reality is tied to the past and present of both countries. France, as one of Europe’s colonial powers, controlled territories beyond its borders between the 15th and 20th centuries, forcibly establishing governments mainly in Africa, the Caribbean, and Oceania.

Starting in the 1950s, France began losing its colonies due to nationalist and separatist movements seeking to end oppression and racial discrimination. However, ties with its former colonies have continued to this day. Many of these new nations struggled to achieve political and economic stability, leading to mass displacement and migration.

As a result, France — one of the main entry points to Europe via the Mediterranean — became a destination for millions fleeing these circumstances. According to the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE), in 2023, more than 7.3 million immigrants lived in France, representing 10.7 percent of the population. Within the French national team, that figure reached 61.2 percent.

The United States, since becoming an economic power in the late 19th century, also became a destination for countless migrants seeking a better life. This trend accelerated during the 20th century, to the point that it is now the country with the largest immigrant population in the world — 47.8 million people, according to 2023 data from the Migration Policy Institute.

Since Donald Trump’s arrival to the presidency, first from 2017 to 2021, and again in 2025 for a second term, the United States has sought to curb immigration, restricting asylum applications. The country once admitted up to 231,700 asylum seekers in 1980; last year that figure was capped at 125,000, of which only 27,308 had been accepted as of October. Even so, multiculturalism has become deeply embedded in American society, fostering communities of diverse origins — reflected in this case by a national team composed of players with varied backgrounds.

AIPS Media