In May 2025, Italy passed Law No. 74/2025, amending its long-standing citizenship framework (Law No. 91/1992). For decades, Italy’s ius sanguinis system allowed millions of descendants of Italian emigrants to obtain citizenship, often regardless of how many generations removed they were from the country. Now, with the reform in place, that door has narrowed significantly.
This change goes beyond legal and administrative matters. It reshapes how football clubs and national teams think about talent recruitment, eligibility, and the strategic use of passports in global sport.
From “Citizenship Tourism” to Genuine Connection
For years, critics labeled Italy’s approach as “citizenship tourism.” It was possible for someone with a great-great-grandparent born in Italy to claim an Italian passport — and, by extension, EU citizenship. That status came with benefits: freedom of work and movement across Europe.
Footballers, in particular, leveraged this system. Many became eligible to represent Italy on the international stage, while others used an Italian passport to bypass non-EU quotas in domestic leagues. Mauro Camoranesi, Thiago Motta, Jorginho, and Éder are just some of the Azzurri who built international careers thanks to the generous interpretation of ius sanguinis.
The reform, however, introduces stricter criteria:
- Citizenship is only possible if a parent or grandparent was exclusively Italian at the time of birth (or death, if prior).
- Dual-national parents must have resided in Italy for two consecutive years before the child’s birth to pass on citizenship.
For applications filed before March 28, 2025, a transitional regime protects those already in process. Citizens who secured Italian nationality before that date also retain their status.
Football’s New Landscape
The implications for football are immediate and long-term:
- National Team Eligibility
The Italian FA will no longer be able to easily naturalize players with distant ancestry. Under the new rules, stars like Camoranesi or Jorginho would not have been eligible. This restricts Italy’s ability to expand its player pool internationally and may shift focus to strengthening domestic academies. - Non-EU Quotas in Leagues
European clubs — particularly in Serie A — have historically welcomed South American or African players with Italian lineage because they avoided counting against non-EU squad limits. The reform makes this pathway far more difficult, potentially tightening the player market. - A Changing Talent Pipeline
Scouts will need to adapt strategies. Instead of searching for distant descendants abroad, clubs and federations may pivot to youth development within Italy or accelerate dual-nationality recruitment before players reach senior level.
A Wider Trend in Sport and Identity
This Italian reform mirrors a wider trend: governments and federations rethinking nationality in sport. FIFA eligibility rules, Olympic participation, and EU labor mobility are all influenced by citizenship law. By raising the bar for ius sanguinis, Italy joins a global movement that emphasizes genuine national connection over heritage as a technicality.
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IMAGE: Reuters
