text: can a player change which country he wants to play for in the world cup? for example if he were born in england and played for england but his parents were born in france and brazil could he then choose to play for france or brazil or does he have to stay with england? (all examples) this  is the fifa rule regarding your question. this rule came into force on 1 january 2004.  up his 21st birthday, a player who has represented an association team (country) in one or more matches of an official competition may henceforth request to change the association for which he is eligible, provided that he fulfils the following criteria:  - he has not played at “a” international level for the association for which he is eligible at the time he submitted the request;- he had dual nationality (or more than two nationalities), at the time of his first appearance in an international match in an official competition of any category. therefore, this provision does not apply to any players who have been naturalised after having already represented one association. consequently, fifa has rejected the request submitted by murat mogomedov, a russian player but now a naturalised israeli, as he has already played for russia.  any player who fulfils the above criteria may only once request to change the association for which he is eligible.