Caribbean Players in the 2014 World Cup

The 2014 World Cup is underway in Brazil, although there are zero Caribbean teams in the World Cup this year there are several Caribbean players on different teams all over the world.

1. Nigel de Jong – Much of the Netherlands’ football success over the years has come from the Caribbean nation of Suriname, and the trend continues today. de Jong, of Surinamese heritage,is a defensive midfielder who plays professionally for Milan.
2. David Myrie – a defender for the Costa Rican team, hails from the Caribbean area of Puerto Viejo. He plays professionally for the Costa Rican side Herediano.
3. Patrick Pemberton – Yes, Costa Rica has a Caribbean coastline, and it’s an area with a distinct heritage and culture in large part due to an influx of immigration from Caribbean countries like Jamaica in the 19th century. That results in last names like Pemberton in a Spanish-speaking country. Patrick Pemberton, a native of Puerto Limon, is the lead goalie for the Costa Rican World Cup side, playing professionally for LD Alajuelense.
4. Chris Smalling – of Jamaican heritage, is a centre back for England who plays professionally for Manchester United.
5. Jozy Altidore – The Haitian-American Altidore is one of the leaders of the American World Cup squad. A striker by trade, he plays professionally for Sunderland. He suffered a hamstring injury in Monday’s game against Ghana, however, and his status remains unclear.
6. Leroy Fer – The Norwich City player is a central midfielder who plays for (and was born in) the Netherlands. His roots, however, come from Curacao, where he comes from a family of sporting talents.
7. Georginio Wijnaldum – Wijnaldum is of Surinamese heritage, and plays for professionally for PSV in the Netherlands. For Oranje, he’s a midfielder
8. Jean Beausejour – a 30-year-old left winger for Chile, is the son of a Haitian father. He plays professionally for Wigan Athletic in England.
9. Raphael Varane – Varane, who plays professionally for Real Madrid, is a centre back for the French World Cup team. He is of Martiniquais heritage, as his father comes from the island.
10. Raheem Sterling – The 19-year-old phenom who plays for England was actually born in Kingston, Jamaica. A midfielder, he plays professionally for Liverpool
11. Jeremain Lens – Lens, a striker, is of Surinamese heritage (and has even played internationally for the country). He plays professionally for FC Dyanmo Kyiv.
12. Daniel Sturridge – The England striker is of Jamaican heritage, as both sides of his grandparents are Jamaican. Like Sterling, he plays for Liverpool professionally. (And he keeps up his ties to Jamaica with a charity in Portmore).
13. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – the son of former England international player Mark Chamberlain, is of Jamaican heritage. A winger and central midfielder, he plays professionally for Arsenal.

All information was originally reported in the Caribbean Journal.