Three players of Indian origin have been included in the preliminary or final squads for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be played between June 11 and July 19, 2026 in the United States of America, Mexico and Canada.
Sarpreet Singh, born to Indian parents, has been included in the New Zealand squad announced on Wednesday. The Auckland-born midfielder was eligible to play for India due to his heritage, but opted to play for New Zealand instead.
The 27-year-old made his national team debut in 2018 and has been a mainstay in the side.
Sarpreet Singh’s National Team Statistics:
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Nationality: New Zealand
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Position: Attacking midfield
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Total number of matches: 26
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Goals: 3
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Assistants: 7
Qatar coach Julen Lopetegui, meanwhile, has added Niall Mason and Tahsin Mohammed, both of whom have Indian roots.
Mason has an Indian mother and played for the youth teams of Real Madrid, Southampton and Aston Villa. He earned his first call-up to the senior team in March this year but is yet to make his senior team debut.
Niall Mason’s National Team Stats:
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Nationality: Qatar
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Position: defender
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Total number of matches: 0
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Goals: 0
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Assists: 0
Meanwhile, both of Tahsin Mohammed’s parents are Indian. Tahsin’s father, Jamshid, is from Thalassery, while his mother, Shaima, hails from Valapattanam in Kannur district.
The 19-year-old winger became the first player of Indian descent to play in the Qatar Stars League, the country’s top division of men’s football. He made two appearances for the senior team, with his last appearance being the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Afghanistan in June 2024.
Tahsin Mohammed’s national team statistics:
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Nationality: Qatar
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Position: Attacking midfield
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Total number of matches: 2
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Goals: 0
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Assists: 0
Published on May 14, 2026
