Four Players with Indian Roots Set to Feature at FIFA World Cup 2026

India's wait for a maiden appearance at the FIFA World Cup continues, but the 2026 edition in the United States, Canada and Mexico will still have a significant Indian connection.

For the first time, four footballers with Indian roots are set to feature at the FIFA World Cup, representing four different nations. While none of them will wear the famous Blue Tigers jersey, their presence at football's biggest tournament highlights the growing influence of the Indian diaspora across the global game.

The quartet consists of New Zealand midfielder Sarpreet Singh, DR Congo midfielder Samuel Moutoussamy, Australia winger Nishan Velupillay and Qatar youngster Tahsin Mohammed Jamshid. Together, they represent a remarkable story of how footballing talent connected to India has found pathways to the highest level of international football.

They follow in the footsteps of former France midfielder Vikash Dhorasoo, whose family roots trace back to Andhra Pradesh and who represented France at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.

Among the four players, Sarpreet Singh is perhaps the most recognisable name. Born in Auckland to Punjabi parents, the 27-year-old attacking midfielder made history in 2019 when he became the first footballer of Indian descent to play in Germany's Bundesliga after making his debut for Bayern Munich.

Singh's rise through New Zealand football attracted international attention. After impressing with Wellington Phoenix in Australia's A-League, he earned a move to Bayern Munich, where he initially featured for the club's reserve side before making his first-team debut under Hansi Flick.

He was part of Bayern Munich's Bundesliga-winning squad during the 2019-20 season and later continued his career in Portugal and Serbia before returning to Wellington Phoenix on loan.

Internationally, Singh has been a regular member of the New Zealand national team, earning 24 caps and scoring three goals. He also has previous experience at FIFA youth tournaments, having represented New Zealand at the FIFA U-20 World Cups in 2017 and 2019.

Interestingly, Indian fans may remember him from the 2018 Intercontinental Cup in Mumbai, where he played against India and even registered two assists in New Zealand's victory over the hosts.

Samuel Moutoussamy: Tamil Heritage, African Success

Another player carrying Indian heritage into the World Cup is DR Congo midfielder Samuel Moutoussamy. Born in France, Moutoussamy's football journey is unique. His mother is Congolese, while his father is an Indo-Guadeloupean of Tamil origin. The Indo-Guadeloupean community traces its ancestry to Indian labourers, many from South India, who migrated to the Caribbean during the late nineteenth century.

The 29-year-old midfielder has built a solid international career with DR Congo, earning more than 50 caps since making his senior debut in 2019. Currently playing for Greek Super League side Atromitos, Moutoussamy previously featured for French club Nantes and Turkish outfit Sivasspor. Known for his work rate, defensive discipline and passing ability, he has become an important figure in DR Congo's midfield setup.

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His presence at the World Cup demonstrates the far-reaching influence of Indian ancestry across multiple continents and footballing cultures.

Australia's squad will feature another player with Indian heritage in Nishan Velupillay. Born in Melbourne, the 25-year-old winger has an Anglo-Indian mother and a Malaysian father of Sri Lankan Tamil descent. Since making his senior debut for the Socceroos in 2024, Velupillay has quickly established himself as a valuable attacking option.

His international career began in memorable fashion when he scored against China during his debut appearance in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Since then, he has continued to contribute goals and strong performances, helping Australia secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Velupillay currently plays for Melbourne Victory in the A-League and has risen through Australia's domestic development system after beginning his football journey with Glen Eira FC before progressing through the Melbourne Victory academy.

With Australia aiming for a strong campaign, Velupillay could play an important role in their attacking plans.

Perhaps the most celebrated story from an Indian perspective is that of Tahsin Mohammed Jamshid. Born in Doha to parents from Kannur district in Kerala, Tahsin has emerged as one of Qatar's brightest young football prospects.

His father, Jamshid, hails from Thalassery, while his mother Shyma is from Valapattanam. Like many expatriate families in the Gulf, they built their lives in Qatar while maintaining close ties to their hometown in Kerala. Tahsin developed through Qatar's renowned Aspire Academy, widely regarded as one of Asia's leading football development centres. The winger later became the first player of Indian origin to feature in the Qatar Stars League and currently plays for Al Duhail SC.

He made his senior international debut for Qatar during the FIFA World Cup qualifiers and has since continued his rapid rise through the national team setup.

At just 19 years of age, Tahsin's inclusion in Qatar's World Cup squad marks a historic achievement. He is set to become the first footballer with roots in Kerala to be part of a FIFA World Cup squad, creating significant excitement among football fans across the state.