Four player of Indian origin set to feature at FIFA world cup 2026

India may still be waiting for its first FIFA World Cup appearance, but the 2026 tournament will have a strong Indian connection. Four footballers of Indian descent — Sarpreet Singh, Samuel Moutoussamy, Nishan Velupillay and Tahsin Mohammed Jamshid — are set to represent their respective countries on football’s biggest stage.

New Zealand midfielder Sarpreet Singh, born in Auckland to Punjabi parents, is the most experienced among them. The 27-year-old previously played in India during the 2018 Intercontinental Cup and later became the first player of Indian origin to feature in Germany’s Bundesliga when he made his debut for Bayern Munich in 2019. He has earned 24 international caps and scored three goals for New Zealand.

Representing DR Congo is Samuel Moutoussamy, who was born in France to a father of Tamil Indian heritage and a Congolese mother. The 29-year-old midfielder currently plays for Greek club Atromitos and has made 57 appearances for the national team since his debut in 2019.

Australia’s Nishan Velupillay is another exciting talent with Indian roots. Born in Melbourne to an Anglo-Indian mother and a Malaysian father of Sri Lankan Tamil heritage, the winger made an immediate impact by scoring on his international debut against China in 2024. He has since registered three goals in eight appearances for the Socceroos.

The youngest of the group is 19-year-old Tahsin Mohammed Jamshid, who represents Qatar. Born in Qatar to parents from Kerala, Tahsin plays as a winger for Al Duhail. He made his senior debut for Qatar during the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign and is regarded as one of the country’s promising young talents.

While India will not be part of the 2026 World Cup, these four players ensure that Indian heritage will still be represented on football’s grandest stage.