FIFA World Cup 2026: Four Players of Indian Origin Set to Make History on Football’s Biggest Stage
The FIFA World Cup 2026 will feature four players of Indian origin for the first time in history. From New Zealand's Sarpreet Singh to Qatar's Tahseen Mohammed, their journeys are inspiring football fans across India.
June 03, 2026: While the Indian men's football team is still chasing its dream of qualifying for a FIFA World Cup, players of Indian origin continue to make their mark on football's biggest stage. The 2026 FIFA World Cup, being hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will feature four players of Indian origin — Sarpreet Singh, Samuel Muthusamy, Nishan Velupillai, and Tahseen Mohammed Jamsheed.
This is the first time in World Cup history that four players with Indian roots will participate in the same edition of the tournament. Previously, Indian-origin midfielder Vikas Dhorasoo represented France at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Dhorasoo's family traced its roots back to Andhra Pradesh.
Among the four players, New Zealand midfielder Sarpreet Singh is a familiar name to Indian football fans. The 27-year-old, whose parents are from Punjab, played against India in the 2018 Intercontinental Cup and provided two assists in that match. Sarpreet has also represented German giants Bayern Munich during his professional career.
Players with Indian Roots Ready for the Biggest Stage
Samuel Muthusamy, who will represent DR Congo, is another player with Indian heritage. The 29-year-old was born in Guadeloupe, a French overseas territory in the Caribbean. His mother is Congolese, while his father is of Tamil origin. Muthusamy has been a regular member of the DR Congo national team and comes from a family whose ancestors arrived in the region as laborers many generations ago.
Australia's Nishan Velupillai also has Indian connections. His mother is Anglo-Indian, while his father is Malaysian with Sri Lankan Tamil roots. The 25-year-old forward made his senior debut for Australia in 2024 and has quickly become part of the national setup.
Indian-origin footballers Sarpreet Singh (@sarpreet.singh11) (New Zealand), Tahsin Mohammed Jamshid (@tahsinmj) (Qatar), Nishan Velupillay (@nishan.velupillay) (Australia), and Samuel Moutoussamy (@s_moutoussamy) (DR Congo) are set to represent four different nations at the FIFA… pic.twitter.com/FjSC7LptoP
— The Logical Indian (@LogicalIndians) June 3, 2026
The youngest among the group is Tahseen Mohammed Jamsheed, who recently turned 20. Originally from Kerala, Tahseen began his football journey in Doha and became the first player of Indian origin to feature in Qatar's Stars League. He is also set to become the first Indian-origin footballer to represent Qatar at the FIFA World Cup.
ISL Connection at the World Cup
The tournament will also have an Indian Super League connection. Haiti striker Duckens Nazon, who previously played for Kerala Blasters in the 2016 ISL season, has been named in Haiti's World Cup squad. Nazon currently plays for Iranian club Esteghlal and has been a key figure for Haiti since making his international debut in 2014. The experienced forward has scored 44 goals in 78 appearances for his national team.