FIFA’S South Asian Subcontinent Connection

Every four years we witness the FIFA World Cup unite the planet unlike any other event.

Avid football fans, casual watchers, and those who tune in for approximately a month, quadrennially, all feel something pulling them into the celebration of this sport. There are emotional connections made from Santos, Brazil, to Kerala, India, from Auckland, New Zealand to Madrid, Spain, that transcends language, creating a shared history within the hearts of people.

Adding to the much-anticipated fandom around this FIFA World Cup, the inclusion of Indian -origin as well as players with roots from our South Asian neighbours have made this world cup extra special for us as we unite to support them with sense of belonginess.

Although the national football teams for India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan may not be participating in the current edition of the FIFA World Cup, we as supporters still can root for five incredible players that can trace their families and heritage back to the subcontinent.

Tahsin Mohammed Jamshid

Born in Qatar in June 2006 to Indian parents hailing from Thalassery and Kannur, Kerala, Tahsin inherited his father’s legacy of playing football from a young age. He was selected to train at the renowned Aspire Football Academy in Doha after his skills grabbed eyeballs in youth competitions. He rose through Qatar’s youth teams, developing into a versatile winger at the Academy.

At the age of 17, Tahsin signed with Al-Duhail SC, becoming the first Indian-origin player to debut in the Qatar Stars League. In September 2024, his footballing career took another giant leap as he made his international debut for Qatar’s senior national team in a FIFA World Cup qualification match against Afghanistan.

Tahsin writes his name in the history books once again this June by becoming the first Malayali footballer ever to be called up to a FIFA World Cup squad.

Nishan Velupillay

Hailing from Melbourne, Victoria, in Australia, Nishan was born to a Malaysian father with Sri Lankan Tamil roots and an Anglo-Indian mother. His footballing journey started at the youth academy at Glen Eira FC, FTS.

Nishan graduated from the youth academy with Melbourne Victory FC, making his professional debut in the A-League in 2021. As a regular first-team player, Velupillay was awarded the club’s Young Player of the Year for the 2021/22 season, and three years later the winger would put on a stellar performance to become the club’s top scorer in all competitions with 12 goals and 9 assists in his best ever season.

Velupillay made his international debut for the Australian men’s national football team against China in March 2025, scoring for the Socceroos in the FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers match. Acknowledged for his high-level performances, Nishan has been called up to the Australian men’s national team this June, making him the first ever player of Tamil descent to play at the FIFA World Cup.

Sarpreet Singh

Born in Auckland to Indian parents who trace their roots to Jalandhar, Punjab, Singh has been a staple in the New Zealand national side, making appearances at the FIFA U-20 World Cups in 2017 and 2018, before being called up to play in the Intercontinental Cup in 2018.

He signed a three-year-long deal at Bayern Munich off the back of his international performances, making his debut under coach Hansi Flick as a substitute against Werder Bremen. Sarpreet became the first New Zealander since Oceania legend Wynton Rufer to play in the Bundesliga.

He currently plays for Wellington Phoenix in the A-League Men, on loan from Serbian SuperLiga club TSC, and is earmarked as a player capable of bringing a real difference to the New Zealand national side at the FIFA World Cup 2026. He becomes the first player of Indian Punjabi heritage since 2006 to be called up to the tournament.

Zidane Iqbal

Raised in the heart of English Premier League royalty, Zidane Ammar Iqbal was born in Manchester to a Pakistani father and an Iraqi mother. Playing at local side Sale United from the age of four, he joined Manchester United at nine years of age, later signing his first professional contract with the club in 2021.

He made three historic records on his debut that year when he came on in the 89th minute against BSC Young Boys in the UEFA Champions League. Iqbal became the first British-born South Asian player, as well as the first Iraqi player to don the Manchester United jersey. He also became the first ever British South Asian player to play in the Champions League.

With a unique opportunity to play for England, Pakistan or Iraq, Iqbal received an Iraqi passport in 2021 and has represented the nation ever since. Zidane scored his first international goal at the 2021 WAFF U-23 Championship, captaining the U-23 team.

His debut for the senior team came in a match against Iran during the 2022 World Cup qualifiers. The versatile central midfielder opened his international goals tally against the Philippines in a 5-0 win during the 2026 World Cup qualification match.

Samuel Moutoussamy

Samuel Moutoussamy, the defensive midfielder for the DR Congo national football team, is more than just a key figure in Les Léopards’ squad. He is a player linking three continents, Asia, Africa and Europe, and their histories, across centuries and generations.

Born in Paris, France to a Congolese mother and Indo-Guadeloupean father of Tamil descent, Moutoussamy chose to represent DR Congo at the international level, marking his debut in October 2019 in a friendly against Algeria. He soon turned into a reliable fixture in the national team, known for his defensive work rate and the solidity he inspires, earning himself 57 caps across competitions.

His club career kicked off at the senior level with Nantes in Ligue 1, where he played for seven seasons and gained considerable experience, before leaving on loan to Eredivisie side Fortuna Sittard in 2020, and then signing with Sivasspor in the Turkish 1 League. He currently plays for Atromitos Football Club in the Greek Super League 1.

World Cup Journey So Far

The tournament is already underway, with some encouraging results for teams featuring South Asian heritage stars. Qatar opened their campaign with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Switzerland, Australia secured an impressive 2-0 victory over Türkiye, while New Zealand played out an entertaining 2-2 draw against Iran. Iraq’s return to the FIFA World Cup after four decades began with a challenging 4-1 defeat against Norway, but the occasion marked a historic milestone for Zidane Iqbal. Coming on as a substitute in the second half, Iqbal became the first player of Pakistani heritage to feature in a FIFA World Cup match, adding another significant chapter to the growing South Asian presence on football’s biggest stage.

Meanwhile, DR Congo and Samuel Moutoussamy await a formidable opponent in Portugal for their opening match.

As the competition progresses, these players continue to demonstrate how football transcends borders, languages, and generations. Whether their roots trace back to Kerala, Punjab, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, or the wider South Asian diaspora, their presence on football's biggest stage serves as a powerful reminder that talent, ambition, and identity are not confined by boundaries.