India is still waiting for its first appearance at the FIFA World Cup, but the 2026 edition in North America will feature four players with Indian roots representing different nations on football’s biggest stage.
Leading the list is Sarpreet Singh, the Auckland-born midfielder whose parents are of Punjabi origin. Sarpreet made history in 2019 when he became the first player of Indian descent to feature in Germany’s Bundesliga after making his debut for Bayern Munich. The 27-year-old has earned 24 caps for New Zealand and is part of the country’s World Cup squad.
Another notable name is Samuel Moutoussamy, a midfielder for DR Congo. Born in France, Moutoussamy traces his Indian heritage through his Indo-Guadeloupean father of Tamil origin. The 29-year-old has represented DR Congo more than 50 times at senior international level.
Australia and Qatar also feature players with Indian roots
Australia winger Nishan Velupillay is another player with Indian ancestry set for his World Cup debut. Born in Melbourne to an Anglo-Indian mother and a Malaysian father of Sri Lankan Tamil descent, the 25-year-old has emerged as an important member of the Socceroos squad since making his debut in 2024.
Completing the quartet is Tahsin Mohammed Jamshid, the Doha-born winger whose parents hail from Kannur in Kerala. A graduate of Qatar’s renowned Aspire Academy, Tahsin became the first Indian-origin player to feature in the Qatar Stars League and has already represented Qatar at senior international level.
The 2026 tournament will also have an Indian football connection through former Kerala Blasters FC forward Duckens Nazon, who has been named in Haiti’s World Cup squad.
While India’s wait for a World Cup debut continues, the presence of four players with Indian heritage highlights the growing footprint of the global Indian diaspora in international football.
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