From Kerala to North America: Indian-Origin Footballers Set to Grace the FIFA World Cup 2026

For decades, Indian football fans have dreamt of seeing one of their own on the grandest stage of world football. While the Indian national team continues its search for a World Cup breakthrough, the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America will feature several players whose roots trace back to the Indian subcontinent.

Their stories are spread across continents, cultures and footballing systems. Yet they are connected by heritage, family histories and a shared link to a country that remains absent from football’s biggest tournament.

Tahsin Mohammed

One of the most compelling stories belongs to 19-year-old Tahsin Mohammed. Born and raised in Qatar to parents from Kerala, Mohammed has earned a place in Julen Lopetegui’s 26-man squad for the World Cup.

His father, Jamshid, was a footballer at Calicut University and hails from Thalassery, while his mother, Shaima, comes from Valapattanam in Kannur. Like many of Qatar’s brightest talents, Tahsin developed through the renowned Aspire Academy before progressing to Al-Duhail in the Qatar Stars League.

At just 17, he became the first player of Indian origin to feature in the Qatar Stars League. His rise through Qatar’s youth teams eventually earned him a place in the senior national setup, and now he stands on the verge of making history at football’s biggest spectacle.

Qatar have been drawn alongside Switzerland, Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina in Group B, with Tahsin expected to be one of the most closely followed young players among Indian football fans.

Sarpreet Singh

Another familiar name is Sarpreet Singh. The New Zealand midfielder remains one of the most recognisable footballers of Indian heritage on the global stage.

Born to a Sikh family of Indian descent, Sarpreet made headlines in 2019 when he signed for Bayern Munich, becoming the first player of Indian ancestry to play in the Bundesliga. Since then, he has built a career across Germany, Portugal and Serbia before returning to Wellington Phoenix on loan earlier this year.

His path to the World Cup was anything but straightforward. A serious knee injury suffered during an A-League match threatened to derail his dream. After weeks of rehabilitation and recovery, he returned in time to convince New Zealand’s coaching staff and secure a place in their final squad.

Nishan Velupillay

Australia’s Nishan Velupillay will also carry a unique story to North America. The Melbourne Victory winger has become the first footballer of Tamil heritage to reach the FIFA World Cup.

Born in Melbourne, Velupillay’s father, Sasinath, is of Tamil heritage, while his mother, Gillian, is Anglo-Indian. His footballing journey took him through local clubs before he graduated into Melbourne Victory’s academy system.

His international breakthrough came in October 2024 when he scored on his debut for Australia against China in a World Cup qualifier. Since then, he has established himself as a trusted option under Tony Popovic, scoring three goals in qualifying matches.

Australia have placed considerable faith in the 25-year-old winger, who now finds himself preparing for matches against Turkey, the United States and Paraguay in Group D.

Samuel Moutoussamy

The fourth player with Indian roots heading to the World Cup is Samuel Moutoussamy, who has been named in DR Congo’s squad.

The 29-year-old defensive midfielder was born in France and has family links to India through his heritage. Moutoussamy is a familiar face in French football, having spent several seasons with Nantes, where he made more than 140 appearances and won the Coupe de France during the 2021–22 campaign.

Since making his DR Congo debut in 2019, he has become an important figure in the national team setup, earning more than 50 international caps. DR Congo will begin their World Cup campaign against Portugal, with Moutoussamy expected to play a key role in midfield.

These players follow a path first illuminated by Vikash Dhorasoo, whose ancestors hailed from Andhra Pradesh before migrating to Mauritius and eventually France. Dhorasoo represented France at the 2006 FIFA World Cup and returned home with a runners-up medal after Les Bleus reached the final in Germany.

For Indian football supporters, the presence of Tahsin Mohammed, Sarpreet Singh, Nishan Velupillay and Samuel Moutoussamy offers mixed emotions.

There is immense pride in seeing footballers with Indian roots compete on the sport’s greatest stage. Their achievements demonstrate that players connected to India can thrive at the highest level when provided with the right developmental pathways, coaching structures and competitive environments.

At the same time, their success highlights the challenges that continue to hold Indian football back. While these players have flourished within well-established football ecosystems abroad, India is still searching for the consistency and infrastructure required to produce World Cup-level talent from within its own borders.

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