Why does Machop Chol play for South Sudan?

Born in Khartoum, Sudan · Citizenship: South Sudan

Short answer

Machop Chol represents South Sudan even though he was born in Sudan. 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 South Sudan at senior level (first senior call-up on record: 2022).

Birthplace and citizenship

Machop Chol was born in Khartoum, Sudan; holds South Sudan citizenship.

Being born in Sudan normally gives a player the right to represent Sudan too, if he holds that nationality. Representing South Sudan 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 Machop Chol, so we do not guess.

International career path

His international pathway, as recorded on Wikidata:

South Sudan — senior level, 2022–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.