Why does Alain Gaspoz play for Benin?

Born in Fribourg, Switzerland · Citizenship: Benin, Switzerland

Short answer

Alain Gaspoz represents Benin even though he was born in Switzerland. FIFA rules allow a player to represent any country whose nationality he holds, provided he has a family or residency connection to it; he committed to Benin at senior level (first senior call-up on record: 2003).

Birthplace and citizenship

Alain Gaspoz was born in Fribourg, Switzerland; holds Benin and Switzerland citizenship.

Being born in Switzerland normally gives a player the right to represent Switzerland too, if he holds that nationality. Representing Benin instead usually means a parent or grandparent was born there, or that the player lived there long enough to qualify through residency. Public records do not state which connection applied to Alain Gaspoz, so we do not guess.

International career path

His international pathway, as recorded on Wikidata:

Benin — senior level, 2003–2008

The rules in brief

A player can represent a country if they hold its nationality and have a genuine link to it: birth on its territory, a parent or grandparent born there, or several years of residency. Youth matches do not tie a player to a country. Since 2020, FIFA also lets a player switch once after a small number of senior appearances (no more than three, all before turning 21, none at a World Cup or continental finals) after a three-year wait.