Players With Indian Heritage Feature At FIFA World Cup 2026

India-West News Desk

NEW DELHI — Several players with Indian heritage are representing their respective nations at the FIFA World Cup 2026, including New Zealand’s Sarpreet Singh, Australia’s Nishan Velupillay, Qatar’s Tahsin Mohammed Jamshid, and DR Congo’s Samuel Moutoussamy.

Among them, Singh achieved a notable milestone when he became the first player of Indian heritage to start a FIFA World Cup match. The New Zealand midfielder was named in the starting lineup for his team’s Group G game against Iran on June 16.

Born in Auckland to Punjabi parents, the 27-year-old played until the closing stages of New Zealand’s 2-2 draw against Iran. Wearing the No. 10 jersey, Singh was involved in New Zealand’s attacking play and had several attempts on goal.

Singh also made headlines in 2019 when he became the first player of Indian descent to appear in Germany’s Bundesliga with Bayern Munich. He later played professionally in Germany, Portugal and Serbia before returning to New Zealand football.

Australia forward Nishan Velupillay made his World Cup debut on June 14 during Australia’s 2-0 victory over Türkiye. The Melbourne-born 25-year-old, who has Tamil and Anglo-Indian roots, came on as a second-half substitute.

Qatar winger Tahsin Mohammed Jamshid, born in Doha to parents from Kerala, is a member of Qatar’s World Cup squad. DR Congo midfielder Samuel Moutoussamy, born in France to a Congolese mother and an Indo-Guadeloupean father of Tamil heritage, is also part of his nation’s World Cup team.