Why brothers Inaki Williams, Nico Williams play for different countries at World Cup with Ghana, Spain

The 2026 FIFA World Cup features the Williams brothers, two star forwards from La Liga team Athletic Club. Iñaki Williams and Nico Williams don’t play for the same country, though. Iñaki represents Ghana. Nico plays for Spain.

It’s a fascinating narrative at this tournament. Ghana and Spain aren’t in the same group, so they couldn’t match up for a while, but they’re both trying to get their teams to the knockout rounds.

There are actually other brothers in this same situation at this World Cup, but the Williams brothers are probably the most prominent.

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Why do brothers Iñaki, Nico Williams play for Ghana, Spain?

This actually starts with a senior national team appearance for Iñaki in 2016. He got a cap, but then he was held out of any plans. He didn’t get any more chances.

In 2022, he used FIFA’s one-time switch move to represent Ghana instead, which he did at the 2022 World Cup.

The Williams parents both moved to Spain from Ghana, which gave Iñaki eligibility to represent the Black Stars.

Nico is younger and moved quickly through the Spanish ranks, making his senior national team debut at just 18.

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Spain would potentially want Iñaki now, especially given the chemistry he has formed by playing with his brother, and both scoring goals, for the same club team.

But the one-time switch means Iñaki is now with Ghana for the rest of his international career. Given Nico’s prominence for Spain, he’ll continue to get lots of chances with the Spanish side in the years to come.

Both are trying to represent their family well, just in different uniforms.

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