Euro 2024 has finally arrived! Although it is an international competition, the spirit of modern-day football embraces the diversity and multiculturalism of the competing national teams, and this year’s tournament is a testament to the values that UEFA seeks to uphold and promote these days.
With this in mind, we at UniK SEO set out to find out which national teams competing in Euro 2024 have the highest number of foreign-born players and to find out which teams have no players born outside the country they represent.
Ranking of national teams by number of foreign-born players:
Albania
Albania tops the list with 18 of the 26 players born outside the country, demonstrating the immense contribution of its diaspora.
These players come from countries such as Kosovo, Spain, Greece, Switzerland, North Macedonia, England, Germany and Italy. Their diverse backgrounds and experiences complement the team’s tactical versatility and international vision.
Albania Foreign-Born Players
- England: Armando Broja
- Greece: Mario Mitaj, Tomas Strakosha
- Germany: Yiber Ramadani, Arber Hoxha
- Italy: Marash Kumbulla
- Kosovo: Etrit Berisha, Ardian Ismajli, Mirlind Daku
- North Macedonia: Jasir Asani, Taulant Seferi, Naser Aliji
- Spain: Ivan Balliu
- Switzerland: Arlind Ajeti, Berat Djimsiti, Nedim Bajsrami, Medon Berisha, Amir Abrashi
Croatia and Turkey
Both Croatia and Turkey have eight foreign-born players in their squads, mixing domestic and international experience to enhance their competitive edge.
The Croatian team has players born in Germany, Bosnia, and Austria, while Turkey includes talent born in the Netherlands and Germany.
Croatia Foreign-Born Players:
- Germany: Josip Stanišić, Marin Pongračić, Mario Pašalić, Marco Pašalić
- Bosnia: Josip Šutalo, Ante Budimir
- Austria: Mateo Kovačić, Luka Sučić
Turkey Foreign-Born Players:
- Netherlands: Orkun Kökçü, Ferdi Kadıoğlu
- Germany: Cenk Tosun, Hakan Çalhanoğlu, Salih Özcan, Kenan Yıldız, Kaan Ayhan
- Austria: Mert Müldür
Scotland
Scotland’s six foreign-born players, primarily from England, underscore the strategic advantages of utilizing neighboring talent.
This approach boosts their squad with extensive footballing infrastructure and experience.
Foreign-Born Players:
- England: Angus Gunn, Scott McTominay, Che Adams, Liam Cooper, Tommy Conway
- Isle of Man: Kieran Tierney
Hungary, Portugal, Serbia, and Switzerland
Hungary, Portugal, Serbia, and Switzerland each have four foreign-born players in their squads.
Portugal’s inclusion of players from Brazil and Guinea-Bissau highlights the historical bonds and ongoing talent exchanges that remain strong today.
Hungary Foreign-Born Players:
- Germany: Willi Orbán, Martin Dárdai
- France: Loïc Négo
- Serbia: Milos Kerkez
- England: Callum Styles
Portugal Foreign-Born Players:
- Brazil: Pepe, Matheus Nunes
- Guinea-Bissau: Danilo Pereira
- Switzerland: Diogo Costa
Serbia Foreign-Born Players:
- Switzerland: Miloš Veljković
- Bosnia: Srđan Babić
- Germany: Lazar Samardžić
- Spain: Sergej Milinković-Savić, Vanja Milinković-Savić
Switzerland Foreign-Born Players:
- Cameroon: Breel Embolo, Yvon Mvogo
- England: Kwadwo Duah
- Kosovo: Xherdan Shaqiri
France
The three foreign-born French players, Brice Samba (Republic of Congo), Eduardo Camavinga (Angola), and Marcus Thuram (Italy), continue the country’s tradition of integrating talent from other countries, especially those that still share strong cultural ties with this European nation.
Foreign-Born Players:
- Republic of the Congo: Brice Samba
- Angola: Eduardo Camavinga
- Italy: Marcus Thuram
Spain
Spain’s three foreign-born players highlight the integration of diverse talents into their national squad.
Foreign-Born Players:
- France: Robin Le Normand, Aymeric Laporte
- Germany: Joselu
Other Nations with Foreign-Born Players
Georgia
- Israel: Giorgi Tsitaishvili
- France: Georges Mikautadze
Italy
- Brazil: Jorginho
- Argentina: Mateo Retegui
Slovenia
- Austria: Sandi Lovrić
- Bosnia: Josip Iličić
Poland
- Ukraine: Taras Romanczuk
- Italy: Nicola Zalewski
Romania
- Turkey: Ianis Hagi
- France: Bogdan Racovițan
Ukraine
- Russia: Andriy Yarmolenko
- Israel: Viktor Tsyhankov
Belgium
- Senegal: Amadou Onana
England
- Ivory Coast: Marc Guéhi
Germany
- Uzbekistan: Waldemar Anton
Slovakia
- Argentina: Vernon De Marco
Teams without foreign-born players
Denmark, the Netherlands, Austria and Czechia have squads made up entirely of players born on the territory of the countries they represent.
Ranking
- Albania: 18 out of 26 (69.23%)
- Croatia, Turkey: 8 out of 26 (30.77%)
- Scotland: 6 out of 26 (23.08%)
- Hungary, Portugal, Serbia, Switzerland: 4 out of 26 (15.38%)
- France: 3 out of 26 (11.54%)
- Georgia, Italy, Poland, Romania, Ukraine: 2 out of 26 (7.69%)
- Belgium, England, Germany, Slovakia: 1 out of 26 (3.85%)
- No foreign-born players: Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, the Netherlands (0.00%)
Why This Matters
This diverse representation within national teams at EURO 2024 is a powerful story that resonates beyond the football field. It reflects the broader societal trends of globalization, migration, and multiculturalism.
Highlighting these stories can enhance the tournament’s appeal, attracting a global audience and showcasing football as a unifying force that transcends borders.
For more information, check our full report here.
You can also check our report on: Euro 2024: Players With the Most Instagram Followers by Country
