India’s bid to reach the 2026 FIFA World Cup ended in the second round of qualifying, but the nation’s presence will still be felt on the global stage: several players of Indian origin have been named in other countries’ squads for the expanded 48-team tournament hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. While India itself will not feature in North America next year, the list of diaspora players highlights the country’s continuing contribution to the world game.
Foremost among them is Sarpreet Singh. Born in Wellington to a family from Jalandhar, Punjab, the 27-year-old midfielder once spent time in Bayern Munich’s system and later played for clubs in Germany and Portugal. Now at Wellington Phoenix, Sarpreet made his senior international debut for New Zealand in 2018 and has earned 24 caps. Having recovered from a serious ankle injury, he is expected to be one of his national side’s midfield pillars at the World Cup.
Tahsin Mohammad Jamsheed is another name attracting attention after being included in Qatar’s squad. The 19-year-old winger, born in Qatar to a Malayali family from Kerala, represents Al-Duhail. He made history as one of the first players of Indian origin to feature in the Qatar Stars League and now has a chance to showcase his pace and dribbling on football’s biggest stage.
Australia will also carry Indian-origin talent in forward areas via Nishan Velupillai. Born in Melbourne, the 25-year-old-whose father is Malaysian Tamil and whose mother is Anglo-Indian-graduated from the Melbourne Victory academy. He has played 128 club matches and earned six caps for the national team; his role is expected to be important in Australia’s attacking plans at the tournament.
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s squad features Samuel Mutusamiye, a 29-year-old Paris-born midfielder whose father is of Indian Tamil origin. According to the player’s family ties, and following his mother’s influence, he opted to represent Congo and has accumulated 57 international appearances since 2019.
Also in the conversation is Niall Mason, born in Brighton to an Indian mother. Although he did not make the final cut for his national side after being part of Qatar’s preliminary squads, the defender-now with Qatar SC-remains a promising prospect and could yet become a regular for the national team in future cycles.
India’s absence from the World Cup is not new, but the presence of these Indian-origin players across several teams underlines how deeply the country’s footballing roots extend. Even without the national team, India’s connection to the World Cup continues through its global diaspora.
Original Source: https://assam.nenow.in/four-indian-origin-players-to-feature-in-historic-fifa-world-cup-2026/
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Publish Date: 2026-06-04 14:29:00
