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Twenty four players born outside the Americas are playing in the Copa America Centenario, and 23 of them are Europeans, so they might have been able to play in Euro 2016.
Take Gonzalo Higuain, for example. Higuain was born on December 10, 1987, in France, but barely stayed in Europe a few months before going to Argentina, where he remained throughout his development as a player before signing with Real Madrid in January 2007. Higuain was born in France because his father Jorge, also a footballer, played in Brest.
Bolivia has Martin Ramiro Smedberg-Dalence on its roster. He is a 32-year-old midfielder who currently plays for Goteborg and was born in Norrkoping, Sweden. He can play for Bolivia because his father is a native of Oruro, Bolivia.
Cristian Benavente Bristol's mother is from Peru. He is a midfielder who plays for RSC Charleroi and is among the 23 chosen by manager Ricardo Gareca to represent Peru. Benavente was born in Alcala de Henares, Madrid, Spain.
Venezuela has Rolf Feltscher. Feltscher's full name — Rolf Günther Feltscher Martinez — gives a clue as to his heritage. He was born in the Swiss town of Bulach, half an hour north of Zurich, to a Swiss-German father and Venezuelan mother.
The US national team has in the Copa America Centenario four players who were not born in this country. One of them is the only player in the tournament not born in America or Europe. He is Darlington Nagbe, right forward of the Portland Timbers. Nagbe was born in Liberia but left that country when a civil war began.
Jurgen Klinsmann, the US national team manager, took three players from Germany to the Copa America. Fabian Johnson plays for Borussia Monchengladbach and was born in Munich, Jermaine Jones plays for the Colorado Rapids and was born in Frankfurt and John Anthony Brooks plays for Hertha Berlin, in the city where he was born.
Haiti and Jamaica each rely heavily on English players.
Jamaica's most renowned player is Wes Morgan, captain of the newly Premier League champion Leicester City. Morgan was born in Nottingham. Besides Morgan you can find in Jamaica's roster Lee Williamson from Derby, Clayton Donaldson from Bradford, Gareth McCleary from Oxford, Adrian Mariappa from Harrow, Jobi McAnuff from Edmonton and Giles Barnes and Michael Hector, both of whom were born in London.
Haiti, meanwhile, takes to the tournament eight players born in Europe. PSG right-back Stephane Lambese and Stade De Reims goalkeeper Johnny Placide are both French. Haiti has another six Europeans players: Kim Jaggy from Switzerland and Max Hilaire, Kevin Lafrance, Duckens Nazon, Soni Mustivar and Jean-Eudes Maurice from France.
These players with dual nationality show that 21st century soccer does not escape globalization, and sometimes birthplace is just a reference and home is where you can show all your talent for this sport.
