Why does Ben Salime Boina play for Comoros?

Birthplace and citizenship

Ben Salime Boina was born in Marseille, France.

Being born in France normally gives a player the right to represent France too, if he holds that nationality. Representing Comoros 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 Ben Salime Boina, so we do not guess.

International career path

His international pathway, as recorded on Wikidata:

He only played youth football for France national beach. Youth caps do not tie a player to a country, so he was free to choose Comoros for senior football.

• France national beach — beach soccer level, 2012–present
• Comoros — senior level, 2015–present

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.

Read our full guide to FIFA eligibility rules →