India may not have qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which kicks off on June 11, but the country’s football fans will still have strong reasons to follow the tournament closely.
Two footballers of Indian origin – Australia’s Nishan Velupillay and Qatar’s Tahsin Mohammed Jamshid – are set to feature on football’s biggest stage, creating moments of pride for Indian and diaspora communities across the world.
For many football followers in Kerala and Tamil communities globally, their selection is being viewed as a landmark moment, reflecting how talent from Indian-origin families is beginning to make an impact at the highest levels of international football, The New Indian Express reported.
Nishan becomes first footballer of Tamil heritage at World Cup
Melbourne Victory winger Nishan has been named in Australia’s 26-man squad for the World Cup by Socceroos coach Tony Popovic.
The 25-year-old attacker will become the first footballer of Tamil heritage to play at a FIFA World Cup, the Tamil Guardian reported.
Australia have been drawn in Group D alongside Turkey, the United States and Paraguay, with their opening match scheduled against Turkey on June 13 at BC Place in Vancouver.
Nishan’s father, Sasinath Velupillay, has Sri Lankan Tamil roots, while his mother Gillian, is Anglo-Indian.
Born and raised in Melbourne, Nishan studied at Mazenod College in Mulgrave before rising through the youth system at Glen Eira FC and eventually joining Melbourne Victory’s academy.
His rise to international football has been rapid.
Nishan made his senior debut for Australia in October 2024 during a World Cup qualifier against China. Coming on as a substitute in the 83rd minute, he scored just seven minutes later to help Australia secure a 3-1 win.
The goal instantly brought him into the spotlight, both within Australian football circles and among Tamil communities worldwide.
Since then, Nishan has earned seven senior caps and scored three international goals – all in World Cup qualifying matches – underlining the trust coach Popovic has placed in him during high-pressure situations.
Melbourne Victory Director of Football John Didulica praised the winger’s journey to the global stage.
“Nish has worked exceptionally hard since he first walked into this club as a junior footballer to put himself in this position,” Didulica said.
“I couldn’t think of any player more deserving of this honour, and it is a proud moment for him, his family and everyone associated with Melbourne Victory.”
Nishan is among 17 players in Australia’s squad who will experience a FIFA World Cup for the first time. He is joined by senior forward Mathew Leckie, who is preparing for a record-equalling fourth World Cup appearance.
Tahsin becomes first Malayalee in a World Cup squad
While Nishan is creating history for the Tamil community, 19-year-old Tahsin Mohammed Jamshid is doing the same for Kerala.
The winger has been selected in Qatar’s final 26-member squad, becoming the first Malayalee footballer to make a World Cup team.
Born and raised in Doha to parents from Kerala’s Malabar region, Tahsin has emerged as one of Qatar’s brightest young football talents.
His parents moved from Kannur to Qatar in 1996. Tahsin’s father, Jamshid, who works as an accountant in Doha, had himself played football for the University of Calicut in Kerala.
Tahsin currently plays for Al-Duhail SC and is also the first footballer of Indian origin to feature in the Qatar Stars League.
According to veteran journalist D. Ravi Kumar, who has extensively covered football in Qatar, Tahsin’s football journey began during an inter-school tournament where scouts first noticed his talent.
“Tahsin may be playing for Qatar, but Malabar’s aspirations run through his veins,” Ravi said.
Tahsin later joined the world-renowned Aspire Academy for Sports Excellence, which has produced several elite footballers for Qatar. He represented the country at Under-16, Under-17 and Under-19 levels before progressing to the senior national team.
His senior debut came during Qatar’s World Cup qualification campaign against Afghanistan. Though he was included in the squad against India, he did not feature in that match. He later appeared in Qatar’s decisive final qualification fixtures.
Ravi believes Tahsin’s versatility could make him an important player for Qatar under coach Julen Lopetegui.
“He plays mainly as a winger, but under Lopetegui we may see him shift into a more defined midfield role,” Ravi said.
A proud moment for Indian football fans
The achievements of Nishan and Tahsin have generated excitement among Indian football fans despite India’s absence from the tournament.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor described their selections as “a historic moment for Indian football fans”.
On social media platform X, Tharoor wrote: “As the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, we will have two players of Indian heritage gracing the global stage.”
He also recalled former France midfielder Vikash Dhorasoo, whose ancestors hailed from Andhra Pradesh, and who represented France at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the first edition featuring 48 teams and three host nations – the United States, Canada and Mexico.
