Why does Saido Berahino play for Burundi?

Birthplace and citizenship

Saido Berahino was born in Burundi; holds Burundi and United Kingdom citizenship.

International career path

His international pathway, as recorded on Wikidata:

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

• England U16 — under-16 level, 2009 (4 matches, 3 goals)
• England U17 — under-17 level, 2009–2010 (12 matches, 6 goals)
• England U18 — under-18 level, 2010–2011 (2 matches, 2 goals)
• England U19 — under-19 level, 2011–2012 (11 matches, 3 goals)
• England U20 — under-20 level, 2011–2014 (7 matches, 0 goals)
• England U21 — under-21 level, 2013–2015 (11 matches, 10 goals)
• Burundi — senior level, 2018–present (18 matches, 2 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 →