Why does Anis Ben Slimane play for Tunisia?
Born in Copenhagen, Denmark · Citizenship: Kingdom of Denmark, Tunisia
Short answer
Anis Ben Slimane represents Tunisia even though he was born in Denmark. 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 Tunisia at senior level (first senior call-up on record: 2020).
Birthplace and citizenship
Anis Ben Slimane was born in Copenhagen, Denmark; holds Kingdom of Denmark and Tunisia citizenship.
Being born in Denmark normally gives a player the right to represent Denmark too, if he holds that nationality. Representing Tunisia 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 Anis Ben Slimane, so we do not guess.
International career path
His international pathway, as recorded on Wikidata:
He only played youth football for Denmark U19. Youth caps do not tie a player to a country, so he was free to choose Tunisia for senior football.
- Denmark U19 — under-19 level, 2019–2020 (9 matches, 2 goals)
- Tunisia — senior level, 2020–present
- Tunisia U20 — under-20 level, dates unknown
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.
Frequently asked questions
Why does Anis Ben Slimane play for Tunisia?
Anis Ben Slimane holds Tunisian nationality and chose to represent Tunisia at senior level despite being born in Denmark.
Where was Anis Ben Slimane born?
Anis Ben Slimane was born in Copenhagen, Denmark.
What nationality is Anis Ben Slimane?
Wikidata lists Anis Ben Slimane as a citizen of Kingdom of Denmark and Tunisia.
Could Anis Ben Slimane have played for Denmark?
Probably, if he holds Denmark nationality, as players born in a country are eligible for it. Once a player has played a competitive senior match for one country, switching is only possible under narrow FIFA exceptions.