Michael Olise chooses to represent France over England and Nigeria
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 23, 2026, 1:00 AM
Last updated Jun 23, 2026
Michael Olise announced his decision to represent France internationally ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Born in London to a Nigerian-British father and a French-Algerian mother, Olise was eligible to play for several countries. He cited his admiration for French players such as Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry as influences on his choice. Olise made this declaration during an interview on June 8, 2026, after a friendly match against Northern Ireland.
- •Michael Olise celebrates scoring for France in a friendly on June 8.
- •He has Nigerian, British, and Algerian heritage but chose France.
- •Olise followed French football icons during his youth.
- •He has played in top academies including Chelsea and Manchester City.
- •Olise joined Bayern Munich at age 22 following his career in England.
- 1:00 AMYahoo Sports — Why Michael Olise chose to represent France over England, Nigeria, or Algeria
"Olise had to make a big choice on his international career.
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