Arsenal defender Cristhian Mosquera is considering switching international allegiance from Spain after being promised a spot elsewhere at the 2026 World Cup in North America. Mosquera, born in the city of Alicante, has represented the Spanish national team at various youth levels, but he has yet to break into the senior squad. With the World Cup fast approaching, the 21-year-old is considering representing another nation.
Mosquera joined Arsenal this summer
Arsenal completed the signing of Mosquera from Valencia during the summer transfer window in a £13 million ($17m) deal. The 21-year-old was brought in to add depth and competition to Mikel Arteta’s backline, which already boasts one of the Premier League’s most formidable centre-back pairings in William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes.
Mosquera has already adjusted to life in north London and has recently explained what convinced him to leave Spain and move to the Premier League. The defender had said: "I feel great at the club and in the city. From the first moment Arteta spoke to me, I had no doubts about going to Arsenal. There’s an incredible group of players. Plus, there are a lot of Spanish speakers who have helped me adapt. When I signed, I knew I was going to face them [Gabriel and Saliba], two world-class stars, but that was the club’s idea: to have players competing for every position to go as far as possible."
AdvertisementGetty Images SportDefender considering switching international allegiance
Mosquera has represented the Spanish national team at Under-15, U16, U18, U19 and U21 levels, but he is yet to break into Luis de la Fuente's senior squad. Mosquera is desperate to play at the World Cup in North America next year but he is currently behind Dean Huijsen, Robin Le Normand and Pau Cubarsi in La Roja's set-up. His wish could, however, be fulfilled, as according to , Colombia are hoping to convince the defender to represent their national team. The Gunners star's parents hail from the South American nation and he himself holds a Colombian passport.
The CONMEBOL side have reportedly guaranteed Mosquera a place in their squad at the 2026 World Cup, which might convince the 21-year-old to switch his international allegiance. In 2023, Colombia had made similar efforts, but at that point, the youngster was convinced he would represent Spain at the senior level after being named as the captain of their U-21 team.
Can footballers switch international allegiance?
The short answer is yes. Footballers can change international teams thanks to the FIFA eligibility rules. Article 9 of FIFA's Regulations Governing the Application of the Statutes deals with changing association. The rules allow a player to change their national team allegiance only once, but the latest 2020 update also facilitates a reversal of a change request in certain specific circumstances. FIFA allows footballers to change their international team allegiance in recognition of the complexities of individual identity that accompany the increasingly globalised society in which we live. It is generally accepted that there are many players who hold more than one nationality and whose attachment to a particular country or countries is inherently nuanced.
In recent times, former Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood is in the process of switching allegiance from England to Jamaica. Greenwood made just the one appearance for England before he was exiled by United in 2023 and has since been working on a switch of allegiance that would allow him to make his return on the international stage.
Getty Images SportMosquera's journey at Arsenal so far
Mosquera’s signing has already proven to be a masterstroke for Arsenal, not only in terms of squad depth but also in value. At just £13m, the Spanish defender is considered one of the bargains of the summer transfer window, and his performances have backed that up. When Saliba picked up a minor injury against Liverpool last month, Arteta immediately turned to Mosquera – a decision that paid off, with the youngster putting in a composed display. Arteta later praised his impact, saying, "Thank God we had Mosquera." He has appeared in eight matches across all competitions, which include two Premier League starts and one in the Champions League.