Four Indian-Origin Players Will Feature at FIFA World Cup 2026

India will not be playing at the FIFA World Cup 2026, but the country will still have a presence on football’s biggest stage.

For the first time, four players with Indian roots are set to represent four different nations at the tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Indian-Origin Players at FIFA

The milestone comes as India continues its long wait for a World Cup appearance. While the national team failed to qualify, these players will carry connections to Kerala, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, and the wider Indian diaspora when the competition begins.

Tahsin Mohammed Jamshid (Qatar)

Among the four is Tahsin Mohammed Jamshid, a Qatar winger born in Doha to parents from Kerala.

At just 19, he is the youngest player in the group and one of Qatar’s rising talents after progressing through the country’s Aspire Academy system.

Sarpreet Singh (New Zealand)

New Zealand midfielder Sarpreet Singh is another familiar name. Born to Punjabi parents in Auckland, Singh gained international attention when he joined Bayern Munich in 2019.

He now heads into the World Cup as one of New Zealand’s key creative players.

Samuel Moutoussamy (DR Congo)

DR Congo midfielder Samuel Moutoussamy also has Indian ancestry through his father’s Tamil heritage.

The France-born footballer built his career in European football and brings valuable top-level experience to the tournament.

Nishan Velupillay (Australia)

Australia’s Nishan Velupillay completes the quartet. The Melbourne-born winger, who has Tamil roots, earned attention after scoring on his international debut and has become an emerging option in Australia’s attack.