Why does Omar El Kaddouri play for Morocco?

Born in Brussels metropolitan area, Belgium · Citizenship: Belgium, Morocco

Short answer

Omar El Kaddouri represents Morocco even though he was born in Belgium. 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 Morocco at senior level (first senior call-up on record: 2013).

Birthplace and citizenship

Omar El Kaddouri was born in Brussels metropolitan area, Belgium; holds Belgium and Morocco citizenship.

Being born in Belgium normally gives a player the right to represent Belgium too, if he holds that nationality. Representing Morocco 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 Omar El Kaddouri, so we do not guess.

International career path

His international pathway, as recorded on Wikidata:

He only played youth football for Belgium U21. Youth caps do not tie a player to a country, so he was free to choose Morocco for senior football.

Belgium U21 — under-21 level, 2011–2012 (2 matches, 1 goal)
Morocco U21 — under-21 level, 2012 (2 matches, 0 goals)
Morocco — senior level, 2013–2020 (30 matches, 5 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.