India did not qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but four players of Indian origin are still at the tournament — representing New Zealand, Australia, DR Congo and Qatar.
Is India in the FIFA World Cup 2026? India’s Qualification Status Explained
Here is who each player is, who they play for, and where you can catch their matches.
Sarpreet Singh — New Zealand
Sarpreet Singh is a 27-year-old midfielder born in Auckland to Punjabi parents from Jalandhar.
He is the first Sikh and the first New Zealander of South Asian heritage to play at a men’s FIFA World Cup, per Outlook India.
Singh also became the first player of Indian descent to feature in Germany’s Bundesliga back in 2019, according to the Sunday Guardian.
New Zealand is in Group G alongside Belgium, Egypt and Iran.
The team’s matches are split between Los Angeles and Vancouver, with two of their three group games at BC Place in Vancouver.
Nishan Velupillay — Australia
Nishan Velupillay is a 25-year-old winger for the Socceroos and for A-League club Melbourne Victory.
He was born in Melbourne to an Anglo-Indian mother and a father of Sri Lankan Tamil descent, reports The Week.
He is the first player of Tamil heritage to represent Australia at a World Cup, according to Melbourne Victory.
Velupillay made his tournament debut in Australia’s 2-0 win over Türkiye in their Group D opener.
Australia shares Group D with the United States, Paraguay and Türkiye, per CBS Sports.
Samuel Moutoussamy — DR Congo
Samuel Moutoussamy is a 29-year-old midfielder with more than 50 caps for DR Congo, according to Deccan Herald.
He was born in Paris to a Congolese mother and an Indo-Guadeloupean father of Tamil descent.
His Indian roots trace back through the Tamil community of Guadeloupe, a French Caribbean territory, notes Indian Link.
DR Congo is in Group K with Portugal, Uzbekistan and Colombia, per Al Jazeera.
Their opener against Portugal is being played in Houston.
Tahsin Mohammed Jamshid — Qatar
Tahsin Mohammed Jamshid is the most historic name on this list — the 19-year-old winger is set to become the first Indian passport holder to play at a FIFA World Cup, reports Gulf News.
He was born in Doha to Malayali parents from Kannur, Kerala.
His father Jamshid Thachankandy is from Thalassery and his mother Shyma is from Valapattanam, both in Kannur district, according to Deccan Chronicle.
Tahsin holds an Indian passport alongside a Qatari mission passport, a special document that lets foreign nationals represent Qatar in major competitions, per India.com.
He came through Qatar’s Aspire Academy and plays club football for Qatar Stars League side Al-Duhail.
Qatar is in Group B with Canada, Switzerland and Bosnia and Herzegovina, per Al Jazeera.
Qatar Match at the 2026 World Cup: Full Schedule, Dates and Kick-off Times
Where to watch them at the 2026 World Cup
All four players are competing across the United States, Canada and Mexico, so following any of them means a long-haul trip for fans in the Gulf and South Asia.
Here are the host cities where you are most likely to catch each team:
- New Zealand (Sarpreet Singh): Los Angeles and Vancouver.
- Australia (Nishan Velupillay): Group D venues across the US and Vancouver.
- DR Congo (Samuel Moutoussamy): opening match in Houston.
- Qatar (Tahsin Jamshid): Group B matches alongside co-host Canada.
If you are planning to travel, you can compare fares to the host cities using flights to Los Angeles and book a base with hotels in Los Angeles.
You can also keep an eye on schedules and any disruptions through the Wego flight tracker.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Schedule: All 104 Fixtures, Dates & Local Times (Downloadable PDF)
Frequently Asked Questions
Did India qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
No. The Indian national team did not qualify. The four Indian-origin players at the tournament represent New Zealand, Australia, DR Congo and Qatar.
Who is the first Indian passport holder to play at a World Cup?
Tahsin Mohammed Jamshid of Qatar is set to be the first. The Doha-born winger of Kerala heritage holds an Indian passport alongside a Qatari mission passport.
Where is the 2026 World Cup being held?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. It is the first edition with 48 teams.
Sources
- FIFA — 2026 World Cup Final Draw Results
- Khaleej Times — Meet the four Indian-origin players playing for 4 nations
- Outlook India — Who is Sarpreet Singh?
- Deccan Herald — Sarpreet Singh becomes first player of Indian origin in a World Cup starting XI
- The Week — Australia’s Nishan Velupillay becomes first Indian-origin star to play FIFA World Cup in 20 years
- Melbourne Victory — Velupillay lands Socceroos World Cup squad spot
- Gulf News — Malayali footballer with Kannur roots playing for Qatar
- Deccan Chronicle — From Kerala to Qatar’s World Cup squad: Tahsin Jamshid’s journey
- Samuel Moutoussamy — profile, caps and heritage
- Al Jazeera — World Cup 2026 full match schedule, groups and start times
- Sky Sports — World Cup 2026 Group G guide and fixtures
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