FIFA Blocked Mile Svilar From Switching Nations
The goalkeeper remains ineligible for Belgium after a ruling on his national team status.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Soccer
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FIFA has officially denied Mile Svilar's request to switch his football nationality from Serbia to Belgium. The governing body cited eligibility statutes that prevent international changes for players who debuted after their 21st birthday.
Why it matters
The decision leaves the high-performing goalkeeper sidelined from international play, as Serbia stopped considering him for selection following his decision to decline a second call-up.
Mile Svilar is a 27-year-old goalkeeper for Serie A leaders Roma and a winner of two consecutive Best Goalkeeper awards. He made his senior international debut at age 22, playing 45 minutes against Qatar.
The players
Mile Svilar
He is a 27-year-old professional goalkeeper currently playing for the Italian club Roma.
FIFA
The international governing body for association football is responsible for establishing and enforcing player eligibility statutes.
Roma
This is the Italian professional football club that currently leads the Serie A league standings.
Serbian national team
This national football organization previously capped Svilar in an international friendly match.
The details
Svilar sought to change his eligibility to Belgium, his birthplace, after previously switching from Belgium to Serbia in 2021. His legal team challenged the eligibility rules, but FIFA maintained that players who debuted in official fixtures after turning 21 cannot switch teams.
Timeline
In September 2021, Svilar made his senior debut for the Serbian team against Qatar.
In October 2026, FIFA denied Svilar's request to switch national eligibility.
Season Trajectory
The ruling limits the international pool for the Belgian national team, impacting their long-term depth at the goalkeeper position. It also cements Svilar's status as a club-focused player for Roma as he remains unavailable for national selection.
Svilar will not be available for upcoming international fixtures, meaning he will remain exclusively focused on his club duties for Roma. Fantasy managers and observers of Serie A should note that his availability is now entirely tied to his club health and rotation schedule.
The takeaway
The case highlights the rigid nature of FIFA eligibility rules which can abruptly halt an athlete's international career trajectory. Players considering nationality changes must carefully monitor age-based thresholds to ensure they maintain future eligibility.
Further reading
For more on international football regulations and player transfers, visit the Soccer section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Scottish Sun.
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