Why does Maxwel Cornet play for Ivory Coast?

Birthplace and citizenship

Maxwel Cornet was born in Ivory Coast; holds France and Ivory Coast citizenship.

International career path

His international pathway, as recorded on Wikidata:

He only played youth football for France U16, France U17, France U18, France U19, France U20 and France U21. Youth caps do not tie a player to a country, so he was free to choose Ivory Coast for senior football.

• France U16 — under-16 level, 2011–2012 (15 matches, 5 goals)
• France U17 — under-17 level, 2012–2013 (9 matches, 7 goals)
• France U18 — under-18 level, 2013–2014 (4 matches, 2 goals)
• France U19 — under-19 level, 2013–2015 (17 matches, 8 goals)
• France U20 — under-20 level, 2015–present
• France U21 — under-21 level, 2015–present
• Ivory Coast — senior level, 2017–present (31 matches, 6 goals)

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 →