Liverpool striker Alexander Isak is showing a different flag on his boots while playing at the World Cup.
Alexander Isak is playing for Sweden in his first World Cup, but he’s also proud to honor his family background. He scored his first World Cup goal during Sweden’s 5-1 win over Tunisia, though Sweden later lost 5-1 to the Netherlands.
Sweden still has a good chance to reach the round of 32 as they face Japan in their last group match. Isak is about to make his 62nd appearance for Sweden, and you’ll notice he’s wearing a special touch on his boots — the Eritrean flag.
Isak, who plays for Liverpool and is the most expensive player in Premier League history, proudly shows his heritage with the Eritrean flag on his right Adidas boot during games. Though born in Solna, near Stockholm, his parents come from Eritrea in East Africa, and he’s become a big role model for the Eritrean community.
In a chat with Premier League legend Alan Shearer, Isak shared, “Even though I grew up in Sweden, I was always around the Eritrean community. It’s a big part of who I am.” He recently visited Eritrea and was warmly welcomed at a football school by kids who look up to him.
Eritrea celebrated its 35th Independence Day in May, and Isak proudly wore an Eritrean shirt to mark the occasion. Eritrea is located by the Red Sea and shares borders with Ethiopia, Sudan, and Djibouti. The country became independent in 1993.
Isak chose to play for Sweden from a young age and made his senior debut in 2017. He could have played for Eritrea too, but the nation had struggled to compete internationally for many years. They made a strong comeback in March by winning qualifying matches in Morocco, which earned them a FIFA ranking for the first time.
Before their wins, Eritrea was unranked due to inactivity. Although they pulled out of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, they now sit at 184th in the rankings, with potential to improve if they keep winning.
One challenge Eritrea faces is players seeking political asylum during away games. Since 2007, about 80 players and coaches have left the country, which is ruled by President Isaias Afwerki.
In their qualifiers, Eritrea and five other nations fight for spots in a group stage made up of mini-leagues. Teams ranked 1st to 42nd skip early rounds, while those ranked 43rd to 54th compete in the first phase before the 70th Africa Cup of Nations, held in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.