The World Cup is the zenith of any player’s international career, and three ex-Man Utd players have taken a roundabout way to get there in a remarkable story.
With the 2026 World Cup expanding to 48 teams instead of 32, the chances for some of the dark horses to make a surprise run increased.
The wealth of talent at the disposal of heavyweight nations meant that many capable players didn’t get a look in, which has now changed.
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Three former Man Utd players switched nationalities and backed themselves to help their new country get over the line, and they succeeded brilliantly.
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty ImagesAaron Wan-Bissaka
There was a time when Aaron Wan-Bissaka was so good at Old Trafford that there were genuine calls for him to start over the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold and more.
Since then, not only have England’s right-back options increased, Wan-Bissaka also had to take a step back in his career, joining West Ham.
Wan-Bissaka had a good season for West Ham, but knowing that his England prospects had ended, he switched his country to DR Congo.
That move paid off massively, as he became one of the first names on the teamsheet for the African nation en route to qualifying for the World Cup.
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Their final scalp was the much-fancied Nigerian team led by Victor Osimhen, also eliminating Bryan Mbeumo’s Cameroon in the process.
Axel Tuanzebe
Like Wan-Bissaka, Axel Tuanzebe had the world at his feet at Man Utd when he broke through, but injury worries and poor management by the club let him down.
Once tipped as a future captain of the England national team, he took a similar route to Wan-Bissaka, switching his nationality to DR Congo to become teammates with him.
He has already made seven appearances for the national team and will fancy his chances of starting on international football’s biggest stage next summer.
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty ImagesTahith Chong
Tahith Chong’s story is even more remarkable than Tuanzebe’s and Wan-Bissaka’s, because he switched his nationality from the Netherlands to Curacao.
Today, Curacao has become the smallest-ever nation to qualify for the World Cup, with a population of just 155,000.
They beat Steve McClaren’s Jamaica in the playoff final to seal their place and make history, with Tahith Chong being a crucial part of the puzzle.
Chong made his debut for Curacao in September 2025 and has already scored two goals in two games. A goal for his country at the World Cup next summer will be the stuff of dreams.