PSV Eindhoven midfielder Guus Til has become the first Zambian-born player to play at a FIFA World Cup. The 28-year-old came off the bench in Netherlands’ resounding 5-1 win over Sweden in the penultimate round of Group F.

Born in Samfya, Zambia, to Dutch parents on December 22, 1997, Til moved to the Netherlands at the age of 3, where he began his football career in the Dutch youth system.

In the summer of 2016, he signed his first professional contract with Eredivisie side AZ Alkmaar. The playmaker had stints at Spartak Moscow, Freiburg, and Feyenoord before joining PSV Eindhoven permanently in 2022.

At the national team level, Til represented the Netherlands youth teams before making his senior debut for the Orange during an international friendly vs. Portugal in March 2018, aged 20.

FAZ reached out to Til, but talks collapsed.

According to FIFA’s regulations, he was not yet cap-tied to the Netherlands, as players who have made not more than three appearances in unofficial competitions before the age of 21 remained eligible to switch international allegiance.

In September 2021, a 23-year-old Til made his second appearance for the Netherlands, featuring as a substitute in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Montenegro.

The Zambian FA contacted, Til but he was undecided.

Ronald Koeman, who handed him his Netherlands debut back in 2018, called him to the 2026 World Cup.

During the Netherlands’ 5-1 drubbing of Sweden, Til replaced Tijjani Reijnders in the 59th minute. He became the first Zambian-born player to make an appearance at the FIFA World Cup.

Zambia themselves are yet to qualify for the FIFA World Cup in their history despite reaching the heights of winning the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) back in 2012.

The Netherlands, with four points, are joint-top of their group with Japan and are in pole position to qualify for the round of 32 as they face Tunisia next, who have shipped nine goals in two matches.

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