FIFA World Cup 2026: Which Indian origin players have been named in final/preliminary squads?

Three players of Indian origin from two Confederations made it to the World Cup squads.

In a country where the love for the universal game of football transcends caste, creed, ethnicity, gender and religious differences to unite all, the FIFA World Cup 2026, despite the absence of the Indian national team, has quietly become historic for India in an entirely different way.

At a time when the Indian football team is going through catastrophic times after failing to qualify for the AFC Asian Cup for the first time in almost a decade, several players of Indian origin are set to represent nations across the global stage across various confederations.

For decades, the representation of South Asian players at elite football tournaments has been painfully limited and overshadowed, but the upcoming edition of the FIFA World Cup could be a symbolic breakthrough, and all eyes will be on players of Indian origins to make a mark.

In this article, we take a look at players of Indian origins across different nations and confederations who have been selected in the preliminary or the final squad for the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Sarpreet Singh (New Zealand)

The All Blacks are back at the grandest stage of football after a long wait of 16 years. 27-year-old Sarpreet Singh, born in Auckland to Indian parents, was eligible to play for India and turned his allegiance to represent the New Zealand national football team.

He made his debut for the All Whites back in 2018 in a friendly encounter against Canada in Murcia. He has previously plied his trade with Wellington Phoenix before making a move to Allianz Arena with Bayern Munich, where he won the Bundesliga and DFB Pokal in 2020.

After playing across different clubs in Europe, from Portugal, Germany and Siberia, he is back in Wellington to represent the Nix as a loanee. He has previously won the OFC Youth Championships with the U17 and U20 New Zealand teams and has been a regular starter for the All Whites.

He has played a total of 26 games and has scored three times and given seven assists. The attacking midfielder scored his debut goal on Indian soil against Kenya in the 2018 Intercontinental Cup in Mumbai. His most recent goal came in 2025 against Fiji in a FIFA World Cup qualification clash.

Niall Mason (Qatar)

The reigning Asian Champions will feature Niall Mason, who has been selected by Europa League-winning coach Julen Lopetegui. The Brighton-born defender was born to an Indian mother and has honed his skills across prestigious youth academies like Real Madrid, Southampton, Aston Villa and Blackburn Rovers.

In March 2026, Mason earned his first call-up to the Qatar national football team and is yet to make his debut for the Maroons. Qatar have been drawn in a relatively easier group alongside Canada, Switzerland and Bosnia and has a realistic chance of making it to the knockout stages.

Mason is one of the brightest talents in the Qatar team and has proven his abilities across various leagues in England. It will be interesting to see whether Lopetegui names Mason in the final squad for the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Tahsin Jamshid (Qatar)

Son of a Malayali Indian accountant in Qatar, 19-year-old Tahsin Jamshid became the first player of Indian origin to play in the Qatar Stars League. Tahsin trained at the Aspire Football Academy in Qatar and made his senior debut for Al Duhail against Al Rayyan back in 2024.

He has previously represented Qatar youth teams and also played against Afghanistan and India in the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers. He has so far made 2 appearances for the Maroons and will be keen to make the most of his time in the FIFA World Cup 2026 if he makes it to the final squad.

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