Desi flex in FIFA World Cup: Kerala boy Tahsin Jamshid to play for Qatar

Born in Doha to Kerala parents, Tahsin Mohammed Jamshid is set to become the first Indian passport holder to play in the World Cup after being named in the Qatari squad. (Photo/X) KOCHI: Tahsin Jamshid is on the verge of what few Indians expected to see at the World Cup. The 19-year-old is set to become the first passport holder from India to play in the World Cup after Qatar named him in their 26-man squad for the exhibition event in the USA, Canada and Mexico.Born in Doha to Kerala parents, Tahsin is about to make every Indian football lover’s dream come true on the biggest stage of world sport. Along with the Indian passport, he holds the Qatar Missionary Passport, a special document that allows foreign-born athletes to represent Qatar in international competitions.“For me personally, this is such a joyous moment. To see my son reach the heights I dreamed of at his age is truly remarkable,” Tahsin’s father Jamshid Thachankandy told TOI over the phone from Doha. Jamshid himself played for the Kerala sub-junior team in 1985.As A boy from Kerala Tahsin flew off with QatarUnlike full citizenship, the missionary passport is limited in scope and does not provide the wider social rights, permanent status or financial benefits available to Qatari nationals.Jamshid hails from Thalassery while his wife Shaima hails from Valapattanam in Kannur district. The family moved to Qatar years ago in search of better opportunities, but Jamshid carried his love of football with him.“Tahsin’s biggest strength is that he can play on both wings and can also be used as a striker. He has exceptional dribbling ability and is aggressive in the box,” said the proud father.Tahsin’s progress has been accelerated thanks to Qatar’s Aspire Football Academy. The young midfielder drew attention to himself in 2021 when he broke into Qatar’s under-16 national team. He then moved to the under-17 team and continued his development at Qatar Stars League powerhouse Al Duhail. He was also part of the Qatar U-17 squad that played for the Indian youth team during the 2023 exhibition tour.After impressing at the AFC U-20 Asian Cup in China, he made his senior debut for Qatar in a World Cup qualifier against Afghanistan in June 2024.For Tahsin, being selected for Qatar’s World Cup squad is almost like fulfilling his father’s own burning dream, as his own footballing journey shaped his son’s. The former Calicut University player became Tahsin’s first coach and mentor, introducing him to the game early on and guiding his development.Jamshid’s own playing career was promising. He represented the Kerala sub-junior team in 1985 and later progressed through the junior and youth levels, playing alongside former Indian international Jo Paul Anchery. However, his rise was cut short when injury forced him to retire aged just 25.However, the setback did not diminish Jamshid’s dedication to football. After moving to Qatar, he continued to stay close to the sport while working at a private company in Doha. In his spare time, he accompanied Tahsin and his older brother Michelle to the soccer field and oversaw their structured training.