ATLANTA — Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s football journey is set to come full circle when the English-born defender lines up for the Democratic Republic of Congo against England in the World Cup round of 32 on Wednesday, a meeting that highlights one of the tournament’s most compelling international stories.
The 28-year-old defender, born in Croydon, has emerged as one of DR Congo’s most influential players during a historic campaign that saw the nation advance beyond the group stage for the first time. His defensive performances have been instrumental in securing a place in the knockout rounds, where England now stands in the way of a deeper run.
Wan-Bissaka’s appearance against the country of his birth comes after years of uncertainty over his international future. He represented England through the youth ranks and appeared destined for a senior international career after earning a call-up in September 2019 for European Championship qualifiers against Bulgaria and Kosovo.
That opportunity never materialized. A back injury forced him to withdraw before making his senior debut, and fierce competition for England’s right-back position from players including Kyle Walker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kieran Trippier and Reece James limited his chances of another selection despite his high-profile move from Crystal Palace to Manchester United.
As England’s options continued to grow, DR Congo intensified efforts to convince Wan-Bissaka to represent the country of his family’s heritage. His father, Ambroise, originally came from Congo before settling in London, where he worked as a cleaner while helping support his son’s football development by taking him to training sessions across the city.
Wan-Bissaka initially declined several invitations from the Congolese federation, insisting he would only make the switch when he felt the timing was right.
“I wanted to join the national team when I felt ready. Only I know when I am ready, not when others decide for me,” he said after committing to DR Congo last year.
His international debut finally arrived in September during World Cup qualifying, ending years of speculation over his allegiance. Since then, he has become one of the team’s most dependable performers, missing only two of DR Congo’s 17 matches since making the switch.
The upcoming meeting with England adds another layer of intrigue to a tournament that has featured numerous players representing countries other than their birthplace.
DR Congo also includes another English-born player in midfielder Aaron Tshibola. The London-born 31-year-old, who has previously played for Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and Kilmarnock, joined the squad as a late replacement for the injured Rocky Bushiri.
England will not be unfamiliar with facing opponents who developed within the English football system.
Canada’s squad features several English-born players, including Fulham academy graduate Luc de Fougerolles, Middlesbrough defender Alfie Jones and goalkeeper Owen Goodman, who spent last season on loan at Barnsley from Crystal Palace.
The United States also has English-born representation through Giovanni Reyna, born while his father Claudio was playing for Sunderland, Sebastian Berhalter, whose father Greg played for Crystal Palace, and Fulham defender Antonee Robinson.
Elsewhere in the tournament, Norway striker Erling Haaland, France winger Michael Olise and Norway midfielder Thelo Aasgaard were all born in England before representing other national teams on the international stage.
Ghana fielded Manchester City forward Antoine Semenyo and defender Jerome Opoku against England during the group stage, while New Zealand, Scotland, Switzerland and Iraq have also included English-born players in their World Cup squads.
For Wan-Bissaka, however, Wednesday’s match carries particular significance.
After spending much of his career hoping for an England opportunity that never arrived, he now has the chance to eliminate the Three Lions from the world’s biggest tournament while helping DR Congo continue its best-ever World Cup campaign.
If the Congolese are to produce another upset in Atlanta, their experienced right back is likely to be at the heart of the effort, defending against many of the players he once hoped would become his international teammates.
