While Team India watches from home, these Indian-origin players are heading to FIFA World Cup 2026

DR Congo's World Cup squad features Samuel Moutoussamy, a midfielder with Tamil roots through his father's side from Guadeloupe. The 29-year-old made his international debut in 2019 and already has 57 caps for DR Congo. Moutoussamy also enjoyed a successful spell with Nantes in Ligue 1, winning the Coupe de France in the 2021–22 season. Now, he is set to carry Indian-origin representation onto one of football's biggest stages.

Born in Auckland to Indian parents, Sarpreet Singh will represent New Zealand at the FIFA World Cup 2026. The attacking midfielder, who once played for Bayern Munich and won the Bundesliga and DFB Pokal in 2020, has become one of the most recognized footballers of Indian descent globally. Singh has scored three goals for New Zealand, including one in Mumbai during the 2018 Intercontinental Cup.

Qatar's squad could also feature Niall Mason, the Brighton-born defender with an Indian mother. Having trained in academies like Real Madrid, Southampton and Aston Villa, Mason earned his first Qatar national team call-up in March 2026 under Julen Lopetegui. While he is yet to make his senior debut, fans are eagerly waiting to see if he makes the final World Cup squad.


Tahsin Jamshid, the son of a Malayali Indian accountant in Qatar, is already creating history at just 19. The youngster became the first player of Indian origin to feature in the Qatar Stars League and has already represented Qatar in FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Now, he is pushing for a place in Qatar's final FIFA World Cup 2026 squad.