diff --git a/osu.Game.Tournament/Models/TournamentUser.cs b/osu.Game.Tournament/Models/TournamentUser.cs
index 80e58538e5..7faf6d1798 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Tournament/Models/TournamentUser.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Tournament/Models/TournamentUser.cs
@@ -22,7 +22,8 @@ public class TournamentUser : IUser
         /// <summary>
         /// The player's country.
         /// </summary>
-        public Country? Country { get; set; }
+        [JsonProperty("country_code")]
+        public Country Country { get; set; }
 
         /// <summary>
         /// The player's global rank, or null if not available.
diff --git a/osu.Game.Tournament/TournamentGameBase.cs b/osu.Game.Tournament/TournamentGameBase.cs
index f2a35ea5b3..853ccec83c 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Tournament/TournamentGameBase.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Tournament/TournamentGameBase.cs
@@ -186,7 +186,9 @@ private bool addPlayers()
         {
             var playersRequiringPopulation = ladder.Teams
                                                    .SelectMany(t => t.Players)
-                                                   .Where(p => string.IsNullOrEmpty(p.Username) || p.Rank == null).ToList();
+                                                   .Where(p => string.IsNullOrEmpty(p.Username)
+                                                               || p.Country == default
+                                                               || p.Rank == null).ToList();
 
             if (playersRequiringPopulation.Count == 0)
                 return false;