India's dream of qualifying for a FIFA World Cup remains unfinished, but the country's connection to the 2026 tournament will still be visible through four footballers whose family roots trace back to the subcontinent.
The United States, Canada and Mexico-hosted World Cup will not feature the Indian men's national team, yet players with links to Punjab, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and the broader Indian diaspora will be representing four different nations on football's grandest stage.
Their journeys highlight how Indian heritage has travelled across continents and generations, producing footballers who have carved out careers far from the country their ancestors once called home.
Sarpreet Singh leads the Indian connection
According to India Today, among the four names, New Zealand midfielder Sarpreet Singh is perhaps the most familiar to Indian football followers.
Born in Auckland to a family originally from Punjab's Jalandhar district, Singh rose through New Zealand's football system before attracting international attention with a move to Bayern Munich in 2019. While he never became a regular starter for the German giants, the transfer remains one of the most significant moves involving a New Zealand footballer.
Now playing club football in Serbia, the attacking midfielder continues to be an important figure for the All Whites and will be expected to play a key role in New Zealand's World Cup campaign.
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A rising star with roots in Kerala
According to India Today, Qatar's Tahsin Mohammed Jamshid enters the tournament as one of the youngest players carrying Indian heritage.
The 19-year-old winger was born in Qatar to parents from Kerala. His father, a former footballer from Calicut, moved to the Gulf nation years ago, where Tahsin eventually emerged through the country's youth development system.
Currently playing for Al Duhail, one of Qatar's leading clubs, Tahsin made his senior international debut during the World Cup qualification cycle and is regarded as one of the country's brightest young prospects.
For many Indian fans, his presence at the World Cup will be a reminder of the strong footballing ties between Kerala and the Gulf region.
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Tamil heritage and Australian dreams
According to India Today, two other players complete the quartet of Indian-origin representatives.
DR Congo midfielder Samuel Moutoussamy traces his ancestry to the Indo-Guadeloupean Tamil community, descendants of Indian labourers who migrated to the Caribbean in the nineteenth century. Born in France, he chose to represent his mother's homeland, DR Congo, and has become a regular fixture in the national team.
Australia winger Nishan Velupillay also carries South Asian roots. His father is of Sri Lankan Tamil heritage, while his mother is Anglo-Indian. The Melbourne Victory attacker has enjoyed a rapid rise with the Socceroos and heads into the tournament as one of Australia's most exciting attacking options.
