No India in FIFA World Cup but 4 stars of Indian origin are ready to shine
India’s long wait to participate in the FIFA World Cup continues. The men’s national team has never played in a football showpiece, a reality that remains frustrating for a country where the sport has a huge following.
FIFA’s 2022 World Cup numbers underline this enthusiasm. Around 745 million people in India tuned in to the tournament across television, digital platforms and social media, making the country the second largest market after China. Nearly 84 million viewers watched the matches on television, making India one of the best audiences in the world.
So while the tricolor will not be represented among the 48 nations competing in the United States, Canada and Mexico, there will still be familiar threads running through the tournament.
Four players with family origins in India will appear at the 2026 World Cup. Their stories stretch from Punjab and Kerala to New Zealand, Qatar, Australia and even the Caribbean, reflecting the many paths the Indian diaspora has taken over the generations.
SARPREET SINGH (NEW ZEALAND)
Of the four names on this list, Sarpreet Singh is the one most likely to be recognized by Indian football fans.
Born in Auckland to parents whose family hail from Jalandhar in Punjab, Singh has been a prominent figure in New Zealand football for several years. His family ran a grocery store in Auckland and he never hid his affection for his Punjabi heritage.
“I come from a very typical Punjabi family with lots of uncles, aunts and cousins,” Singh told Sportstar.
The attacking midfielder represented New Zealand at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2017 and 2019 before making the senior team. He hit the headlines in 2019 when Bayern Munich signed him from Wellington Phoenix, becoming one of the few New Zealand players to join the European giants.
Despite spending most of his time on loan and not regularly breaking into Bayern’s first team, the move elevated him. Now 27, Singh plays club football for Serbian side TSC and remains an important member of the All Whites squad. Since his senior debut in 2018, he has made 24 international appearances.
TAHSIN MOHAMMED JAMSHID (QATAR)
At the other end of the age spectrum is Tahsin Mohammed Jamshid, who arrives at the World Cup as one of Qatar’s rising talents.
The 19-year-old winger was born in Qatar to parents from Kerala. His father, Jamshid, played for the University of Calicut and Kerala’s sub-junior team before moving to the Gulf country, while his mother, Shyma, hails from Kannur.
Tahsin has developed through the Qatari football system and now plays for Al Duhail, one of the country’s leading clubs. His rise through the ranks culminated in a senior international debut against Afghanistan during the 2024 World Cup qualifiers.
Indian fans may remember him from Qatar’s qualifying campaign, during which he was part of the squad that faced India in Doha. Reports suggest that Tahsin continues to hold an Indian passport and also holds a special Qatari Missionary Passport that allows him to represent Qatar internationally.
Still early in his career, he arrives at the World Cup with a chance to make his mark on a much bigger stage.
SAMUEL MOUTOUSSAMY (DR CONGO)
The story of Samuel Moutoussamy is perhaps the most interesting of the four.
The French-born midfielder traces his Indian ancestry through his father, who belongs to the Indo-Guadeloupe community of Tamil descent. The community emerged from the migration of Native American laborers to the Caribbean during the nineteenth century, creating a cultural connection that has endured across generations.
His mother is Congolese and thanks to her Moutoussamy became eligible to represent DR Congo.
Although he grew up in France and spent his club career there and in Turkey, he chose international football with Leopards. Since making his debut in 2019, the 29-year-old has become one of the team’s most reliable midfielders, racking up 57 appearances.
Known for his work rate and composure in possession, Moutoussamy will bring valuable experience to the DR Congo team, who are returning to the World Cup after a long absence.
NISHAN VELUPILLAY (AUSTRALIA)
Nishan Velupillay heads into the World Cup as one of Australia’s most exciting attacking options.
The Melbourne Victory winger was born and raised in Melbourne, but his family story stretches back to the Indian subcontinent. His father, Sasinath Velupillay, is of Sri Lankan Tamil descent, while his mother, Gillian Velupillay, is Anglo-Indian.
After coming through local clubs and Melbourne Victory’s academy system, Velupillay earned his first senior call-up to Australia in 2024 under coach Tony Popovic.
His debut could hardly have gone better. Introduced in the closing stages of the World Cup qualifier against China, he scored seven minutes after coming on to help seal a 3-1 victory.
This goal proved to be the start of a rapid rise. Velupillay has since made seven appearances and scored three times, with all of his goals coming in World Cup qualifiers. These performances convinced Popovich to include the 25-year-old in Australia’s final 26-man squad for the tournament.
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Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
13 Jun 2026 15:12 IST