The 26-year-old defender born in Barcelona to an Italian father and an Argentinian mother is awaiting the necessary paperwork to join the Argentina national team, commonly known as the Albiceleste.
Argentina has long featured a vast pool of footballers who have represented clubs around the world, ranging from players who never seemed destined to wear the national jersey to world champions who already did. Yet the flip side has happened far less often: a nation known for its abundant talent has not typically needed to recruit players from other countries to rebuild or strengthen its squad. The story, however, has shifted in recent years as the roster of foreign-born players who can represent Argentina has grown dramatically.
The driver behind this evolving trend is clear: the Argentine Football Association (AFA) scouting department. Established in 2020 through the initiative of youth team coordinator Bernardo Romeo and led by Juan Martín Tassi, the department is tasked with identifying players who left Argentina at a very young age and might not be on the usual scouting radar. These players may hold a different nationality of birth but can legally represent the Albiceleste because they have parents or grandparents with Argentine roots.
Over time, the program has quietly expanded the national team’s reach. Players such as Nico Paz, the Carboni brothers Valentín and Franco, and Luka Romero have all progressed through Argentina’s youth ranks or the Major League, demonstrating the pathway from abroad to the national team. The strategy has now reached a new milestone with a potential surprise addition for the upcoming competitive window: right back Pablo Maffeo, who could be eligible to wear the Albiceleste jersey depending on the final paperwork and eligibility confirmations for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
These developments highlight a broader shift in international football where national teams increasingly look beyond their borders to locate talent with ancestral ties or dual citizenship. For Argentina, a country that has historically relied on a deep domestic talent pool, this approach offers a flexible solution to strengthen depth on the wings and in defense while preserving the long-standing identity of the team. The ongoing expansion of the AFA’s scouting network reflects a modern, pragmatic view of how national teams can remain competitive in a crowded global landscape without compromising their heritage.
As teams prepare for the 2026 World Cup double qualifiers, the story of Pablo Maffeo and others looms large as a case study in how international eligibility rules, migration patterns, and football development programs intersect. The focus remains on assembling a squad capable of contending at the highest level, while also acknowledging the evolving complexities of nationality in the beautiful game.