Khaberni - The Tunisian Football Federation continues to reap the fruits of its ambitious strategy to attract dual-nationality talents, having recently announced the completion of the qualification procedures for the German player of Tunisian origin, Rani Khedira, making him officially ready to represent the "Carthage Eagles" in the World Cup finals 2026.
This move enhances a long list of successes the Federation has achieved in recent years by incorporating players who grew up in major European academies; among them is the English Burnley star Hannibal Al-Majbri, along with a host of professionals like Elias Al-Achouri, Elias Saad, Anas Haj Mohammed, and Ismail El Gharbi.
This successful path was preceded by Hamza Rafia, Issa Layouni, and Elias Skhiri, creating a technical mix that combines natural talent with European professionalism.
The Federation confirmed in a statement on its official "Facebook" account that the Football Court of the International Federation (FIFA) officially endorsed the change of sporting affiliation for Khedira, and the decision has been communicated to the German, African, and European federations as final.
Who is Rani Khedira?
Rani Khedira (32 years old) is a significant gain for the midfield of the Tunisian national team, and he is the younger brother of the German machines' legend Sami Khedira who was crowned at the 2014 World Cup.
Rani is currently active with Union Berlin in the German Bundesliga, having played 26 matches in various competitions, scoring 5 goals and creating another.
Khedira has moved between Stuttgart, Leipzig, and Augsburg clubs, and has also represented German youth national teams earlier.
Enhancing the Competitiveness of the Tunisian National Team
The Tunisian Football Federation aims through the recruitment of migrants’ children active abroad to enhance the competitiveness of the senior national team in international forums.
The Tunisian fans, under the leadership of coach Sabri Lamouchi, hope that this qualitative support will help surpass the first round for the first time in the history of Tunisian participations, as Tunisia enters the 2026 World Cup within the tough Group 6, which includes the Netherlands and Japan, waiting for the qualifier from the European playoff (Ukraine, Albania, Sweden, or Poland).
