Four Indian-Origin Footballers To Play 'FIFA World Cup 2026'

Qualifying for the FIFA World Cup has remained a dream for India. But the 23rd edition in the Americas, beginning on June 11, will feature four Indian origin players. The quartet -- Sarpreet Singh, Samuel Moutoussamy, Nishan Velupillay, and Tahsin Mohammed -- follow the footsteps of Vikash Dhorasoo, the French midfielder, who appeared in the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Dhorasoo's forefathers had their roots in Vizianagaram in Andhra Pradesh.

Sarpreet Singh (New Zealand): Born in Auckland to Punjabi parents, Sarpreet even played in India during the Intercontinental Cup in 2018 in Mumbai. He played against the likes of Sunil Chhetri after making his NZ debut earlier that year. He was part of an U23 development side as NZ did not send the first



team.

Samuel Moutoussamy (DR Congo): Moutoussamy was born in France to a Congolese mother and Indo-Guadeloupean father of Tamil origin. Indo-Guadeloupeans are mostly descendants of indentured workers who came mostly from South India in the late 19th century.

Nishan Velupillay (Australia): Born in Melbourne to an Anglo-Indian mother and a Malaysian father of Sri Lankan Tamil descent, the 25-year-old winger is one of 17 players in the Socceroos' 26-member squad who will be making their FIFA World Cup debut. He plays for Melbourne Victory in the Australia top-tier A-League.

Tahsin Mohammed Jamshid (Qatar): Tahsin, who turns 20 on June 16, was born in Doha to Malayali parents, who moved to Qatar from Kannur in 2006.