Playing ball | 4 Indian-origin footballers at FIFA World Cup 2026
No, India is not among the 48 teams competing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. However, there will be four players of Indian origin competing in the world's most watched sporting event
Samuel Moutoussammy (DR Congo)
Samuel Moutoussammy (DR Congo)
Born in Paris, Samuel represents Republic of the Congo, where his mother is from, while his father is an Indo-Guadeloupean of Tamil origin. The defensive midfielder was part of FC Nantes from France’s Ligue 1 for seven years and currently plays for the Greek club Atromitos F.C. Congo have their work cut out in Group K where they face Portugal, Colombia and Uzbekistan.
Nishan Velupillay (Australia)
In Nishan’s debut for the Socceroos, the winger scored against China in the World Cup qualifiers in October 2024. That game and one against Indonesia, and his run with the Melbourne Victory club, were enough for the 25-year-old to make the squad. Nishan’s father, Sasinath, is Malaysian of Sri Lankan Tamil heritage while mother Gillian is Anglo-Indian. Nishan’s ability
To attack and score when called for may work for him.
Tahsin Mohammed Jamshid (Qatar)
Only 19, Tahsin inherits his passion for football from his father, Jamshid Thachakandhy, whose career in the sport in Kerala was cut short due to injury. Like his idol Cristiano Ronaldo, Tahsin is a forward, albeit one who can play on the left and right wing. The youngest in the nation’s WC team, Tahsin will hope to get some minutes against Switzerland, Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Sarpreet Singh (New Zealand)
Punjab, too, will have someone to root for this World Cup. Auckland-born Sarpreet was the first player of Indian descent to join Bundesliga giants FC Bayern Munich. But it has been with New Zealand’s A League team Wellington Phoenix (where he currently plays) that the midfielder made a big impression and ultimately earned a place on the NZ team, the All Whites.
