First Singh to play in FIFA World Cup: New Zealand’s Sarpreet wants more Indians there

New Zealand midfielder Sarpreet Singh has spoken about the significance of his appearance at the World Cup, highlighting what it means for players of South Asian descent on football’s biggest stage. The 27-year-old became the first Sikh to feature at the FIFA World Cup when he played in New Zealand’s 2-2 draw in Los Angeles on June 16.

While India is still waiting to make its first World Cup appearance, Singh’s milestone added a symbolic layer to the representation of players of Indian origin at the global tournament. He became the first player of Indian origin and Sikh player to start in a FIFA World Cup match

Speaking at the team hotel in San Diego, Singh reflected on the emotional weight of his success and its broader impact on his community.

“It means a lot to me, it means a lot to my people, my family, my community,” he said, according to Reuters.

India remains one of the major football nations yet to qualify for the World Cup, despite briefly earning a place in 1950 in Brazil before withdrawing due to financial constraints. Since then, the country has struggled to gain ground in qualifying campaigns, although interest in the sport has continued to grow. Indian origin Sarpreet Singh represents New Zealand at the 2026 FIFA World Cup (Reuters Photo)

“I am very happy to be the first and have paved the way for the rest of them. I hope to see many more Singhs, Sikhs and Punjabi footballers and Indian footballers come through,” he added.

GROWING INDIA’S FOOTPRINT IN WORLD FOOTBALL

Several players of Indian heritage now represent other nations at the highest level. Australian forward Nishan Velupillay, whose mother has roots in South India, and Qatari winger Tahsin Jamshid are among those to feature in the North American tournament, underscoring the growing global footprint of South Asian talent.

Singh also recalled the support he received when New Zealand played a tournament in India a few years ago and said the experience strengthened his sense of connection with fans from the region.

“I always know I’m representing them, as well as New Zealand, so I always try and do my best,” he said.

Singh’s breakthrough performance comes at a time when talk of representation in global football is gathering steam. As India continues its quest for its first World Cup qualification, the presence of players of Indian heritage in several national teams highlights the growing influence of the diaspora in the sport. For many, Singh’s achievement is seen as both a personal milestone and a sign of wider possibilities for future generations who want to reach football’s highest level.

New Zealand will face Egypt in Group G next June 21 in Vancouver, looking for their first win of the tournament.

Football World Cup | FIFA World Cup Schedule | FIFA World Cup Points Table | football news

– The end

Published on:

June 19, 2026 12:25 PM IST