Alexander Isak is currently competing in his first-ever World Cup tournament this summer, but has another country’s flag on his boots. Liverpool’s British transfer fee record signing has looked much more like himself so far this tournament, with one goal and three assists in three appearances meaning he ranks among the best performers based on stats.
Sweden drew 1-1 with Japan in their final match to set up an unenviable Round of 32 tie with France, who are among the favourites for glory come July 19. In that crunch fixture, Isak is likely to come up against Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele, but there’s no reason for him not to believe he can go toe-to-toe with them alongside Viktor Gyokeres.
Eagle-eyed supporters watching Tuesday night’s action might be keen to spot which flag Isak wears on his boots ahead of the iconic blue and yellow Swedish emblem. There’s a reason behind it.
Which Flag Alexander Isak Wears on his Boots - And Why
Alexander IsakTT News Agency via Reuters
Isak is proud of his heritage and has the Eritrean flag on his boots. The flag has been seen on Isak's right Adidas boot in both World Cup games. Though he was born in Solna, just north of capital Stockholm, Isak's parents are from Eritrea in Horn of Africa and moved to Sweden. Speaking in an interview with Alan Shearer, he said:
"Even though I grew up in Sweden, there is a big Eritrean community. I was always around, and raised, in that type of environment. I haven't been there many times lately, but last time I was there, it was a really good experience. I don't think there are too many idols they have within the sports world.”
He visited a football school during a trip to Eritrea, where he was mobbed by young children who look up to him. The country marked its 35th Independence Day in May after decades of struggle, and Isak wore an Eritrea shirt to send a celebratory message.
Located on the Red Sea coast, Eritrea borders Ethiopia, Sudan and Djibouti. The country gained independence in 1993 after a long war of liberation.
Isak represented Sweden at youth level before making his senior debut in 2017, ultimately committing his international future to the Scandinavian nation. Although he was also eligible to play for Eritrea, the national team had endured a long absence from major continental competition, going close to two decades without an Africa Cup of Nations appearance.
Their return to competitive action in March this year marked a rare bright moment, as they beat Eswatini 2-0 in a qualifier staged in Morocco due to a lack of suitable infrastructure in Eritrea. They followed that up with a 2-1 win in the return leg, results that finally earned the nation an official FIFA world ranking after years of inactivity.
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Before those victories, Eritrea had been the only unranked side in the system. Their earlier absence from qualifiers, including withdrawals from 2026 World Cup qualifying, left them in a unique position within the rankings. Reporting has previously suggested that repeated pullouts were linked in part to concerns over players seeking asylum while travelling abroad for international fixtures.
Since 2007, it is estimated that dozens of players and coaching staff have left the national setup during overseas trips, according to UN figures. More recently, Eritrea sit around 184th in the FIFA rankings, though that position could improve if they maintain consistent participation and results moving forward.