Inaki and Nico Williams, two brothers from Athletic Bilbao, are set to play for different countries at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Inaki is an important player for Ghana, while Nico represents Spain. Despite spending two seasons together on the same team, the brothers will be playing against each other in the tournament.
Born to Ghanaian parents who had migrated to Spain in search of a better life, Inaki and Nico were born in the Basque Country. They began their football journey together in the Athletic Bilbao academy before eventually joining the senior team. While Nico had previously represented Spain at the youth level, he made his senior debut for the Spanish team in September 2021 and has three caps to his name.
On the other hand, Inaki initially played for the Spanish national team at the youth level but eventually decided to switch his allegiance to Ghana. He admitted to BBC, that His decision was influenced by his family, especially his 90-year-old grandfather, who expressed his desire to see Inaki play for his parent’s homeland before he passes away.
Although Inaki and Nico played for different countries in the World Cup, they both expressed excitement at the prospect of facing each other on the global stage.
The Williams brothers’ story is a testament to the diversity and inclusivity of football. Despite being born and raised in Spain, they have chosen to represent their family’s cultural roots on the global stage. Their story is a reminder that football has the power to bring people together, regardless of their nationality, race, or background.
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