Luca Koleosho became cap-tied to Italy with a start against Belgium on Sunday, Nov. 15, ending the Connecticut-born winger's eligibility for the U.S. men's national team.
Koleosho started the UEFA Nations League match in Brussels, earning his third cap for Italy.
The 22-year-old can no longer switch to the U.S., Canada or Nigeria, the other countries for which he was eligible. In order to file a one-time switch to any of those three countries, Koleosho would have needed to be under 21 and played three or fewer games for Italy's senior national team.
Koleosho has played for the U.S. and Italy at youth level and has been called into Canada’s senior side, though he never played for Canada. He has been playing for Italy at the youth level for several
years, most recently representing the U.S. in 2019 at the under-15 level.
The winger broke through with Burnley during the 2023-24 season, starring for the club in the Premier League before a midseason knee injury cut his campaign short.
Since then, Koleosho has struggled to find his footing in Europe but has become a regular starter for Paris FC this season. Koleosho has one goal and one assist for the surprise third-placed club in Ligue 1.
Is Koleosho a loss for the USMNT?
It isn't clear how much of a loss Koleosho will be at this point, but he did look like a future star in late 2023 when then-USMNT coach Gregg Berhalter said he'd been in touch with the winger.
But the injury halted his momentum, and Koleosho struggled through the remainder of his time with Burnley and a loan at Espanyol before landing at Paris FC in January. Koleosho has found a home in the French capital, scoring three goals in a half-season loan and convincing Paris FC to make the move permanent this summer.
At 22, he still has room to grow and could be a shrewd addition for an Italy squad still rebuilding after missing its third straight World Cup this summer.
Koleosho is not the only dual-national to pick a traditional European power over the USMNT this fall. In September, highly rated center back Noahkai Banks selected Germany over his birth country of the United States. The Augsburg center back, 19, was called into the USMNT once last fall, but didn't see the field.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Luca Koleosho's USMNT eligibility ends after Italy start
