Laws of the Game is a Vela Wood podcast discussing the history, operation, and organization of soccer worldwide hosted by Kate Porter and Andrew Visnovsky, our international sports law experts.

In this episode, we discuss FIFA regulations on international eligibility, including how FIFA determines which country a player is able to represent in international competitions like the World Cup, how players can effectively switch their nationality, and what it means to be "cap-tied" to a specific national team.

Time Stamps

* 0:40 - FIFA Regulations on International Eligibility

* 1:20 - Holding Nationality v. Eligibility

* 2:20 - Individual Nation's Nationality Laws

* 4:40 - US National Team and Germany

* 6:53 - National Associations

* 10:14 - New Nationalities and FIFA Additional Requirements

* 12:22 - CAS Dispute: UAEFA v. AFC and QFA

* 16:07 - Switching Associations

* 24:48  - "Cap-Tied" Players

* 26:54 - Fielding Ineligible Players & Disputes

Related Links

* FIFA Eligibility Rule Change Offers World Cup Hopes For ‘One-Cap Wonders’

* Imports of Importance: The German influence on the U.S. World Cup team

* FIFA Publishes Explainer on Eligibility to Play for Representative Teams