Mahmoud Dahoud, the midfielder currently with Stuttgart, has decided to switch his national team allegiance from Germany to Syria, as reported by Sky Germany.
Dahoud, who made his debut for the German national team in 2020 against Turkey, has only played twice for the team. Despite his history with Germany’s youth teams and winning the European Championships with the U-21 squad, he now sees his international future with Syria.
His eligibility to change national teams is due to the fact that his appearances for Germany were in friendly matches, which allows him to switch associations under FIFA rules.
As per the report, it is understood that Dahoud has already informed the Syrian association of his decision. Speaking to Sky Germany in regard to his decision, Dahoud explained:
“I was very quickly taken with the idea of playing for Syria. I grew up in Germany, spent my whole life here, and was proud to play in the youth national teams and the senior national team. Germany is my home.”
“Syria is my family’s country of origin and, ultimately, also my birth country. I learned from my family early on how privileged we are to live in Germany and how important it is at the same time to bring joy to the people in Syria. I’m happy to do this, and I’m really looking forward to this project that’s close to my heart.”
Mahmoud Dahoud could potentially make his debut for the Syrian national team in the upcoming matches against Myanmar in March. This would mark a new chapter in his international career, as he shifts his representation from Germany to Syria. While the exact date of his debut is not confirmed, these matches present an opportunity for him to begin contributing to Syria’s efforts in international football.
Syria has a long-standing goal of qualifying for the World Cup finals, a feat they have not yet accomplished. Dahoud’s decision to play for Syria could bolster their chances in future qualification rounds, as they continue to strive for a spot on football’s biggest stage.