Moutaz Neffati, born and raised in Norrköping, played for the Swedish youth national team before accepting an offer to represent Tunisia.
He is far from alone.
Burnley star Hannibal Mejbri learned to dribble in the suburbs of Paris, 18-year-old promising striker Rayan Elloumi has Tunisian parents but is from St. Albert, Canada, Norwich midfielder Anis Ben Slimane was born in Copenhagen, and Sebastian Tounetki comes from Tromsø and has played in Norway’s youth teams.
Dad’s choice: Sweden
The quintet makes up only a third of the foreign-born players who will represent Tunisia in the World Cup.
“They have good players. And they have brought in some players from Europe as well, with a background in Tunisia but born abroad,” says Sweden’s Yasin Ayari ahead of the World Cup opener.
He should know. Because even if Sweden missed the last World Cup, in Qatar 2022, the now 22-year-old Brighton midfielder could have been there.
In an interview with Aftonbladet, father Azzouz, who is from Tunisia, confirmed that the Tunisian national team offered his son a place in the World Cup squad if he had switched national teams.
But neither father nor son wanted that.
“No, I wanted him to play for Sweden. He should feel like he is giving back to the country that took care of him,” Azzouz Ayari told Aftonbladet.
For Yasin Ayari, there wasn’t much to think about either.
“They talked and asked a little. But I’ve played for Sweden since I was little, in the youth teams. So it was only natural to continue,” Ayari says.
The fact that it is his father’s home country that awaits in their first World Cup match is special after all. Father Azzouz could hardly believe it was true when the countries were drawn in the same group.
“It was crazy that we got them in the group. What a coincidence,” Yasin Ayari says.
“But I think it’s mostly special for him and the family there. For me, it’s just going to be fun.”
Little brother Ayari
But Tunisia may not have to give up the dream of an Ayari in the national team.
Younger brother Taha Ayari, who plays for AIK, has made two U21 international appearances for Sweden, but is rumored to be a player that Tunisian national team captain Sabri Lamouchi has on his radar.
“I know Yasin and I know his brother,” says Lamouchi before the opener.
The fact that he is managing a group of players from all over the world at the World Cup is not that strange, he says.
“That’s the history of Tunisia. Many of my players live in Europe and play in the big leagues. I only choose the best players available, even if it’s in Sweden.”
