India's wait for a FIFA World Cup appearance continues, but the 2026 tournament will still carry a distinct Indian connection.
The expanded 48-team World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, begins on June 11 and will be the largest edition in the competition's history.
India, however, will not be among the participants after finishing third in Group A of the second round of the AFC qualifiers, behind Qatar and Kuwait, and failing to advance to the next stage.It extends a long-standing absence from football's biggest tournament.
India famously qualified for the 1950 FIFA World Cup after all of their Asian qualifying rivals withdrew, but the All India Football Federation ultimately pulled the team out before the tournament began.
Since then, the Indian men's national team has never appeared at a FIFA World Cup tournament.
Yet while the Blue Tigers will not be travelling to North America, Indian heritage will still be represented on the global stage through several players set to feature for other nations.
From New Zealand and Australia to Qatar and DR Congo, a small but significant group of footballers with Indian roots are preparing to compete at the biggest tournament in the sport.
Sarpreet Singh (New Zealand) Among the most recognisable Indian-origin players at the tournament is New Zealand midfielder Sarpreet Singh.
The 27-year-old was born in Wellington to parents from Jalandhar, Punjab, and has long been regarded as one of New Zealand's most technically gifted midfielders.
Singh first rose to international attention when Bayern Munich signed him in 2019 after impressing for Wellington Phoenix.
Following spells in Germany and Portugal, including time with Bayern Munich's system and Portuguese club União de Leiria, Singh is currently back with Wellington Phoenix on loan from Serbian side TSC.
Since making his senior debut for New Zealand in 2018, he has earned 24 international caps.
After overcoming a serious knee injury that threatened to derail his progress, Singh is expected to play an important role in midfield as the All Whites return to the World Cup.
For many Indian football fans, he is likely to be the most familiar face carrying Indian heritage into the tournament.
Tahsin Mohammed Jamshid (Qatar) One of the youngest players with Indian roots heading to the World Cup is Qatar winger Tahsin Mohammed Jamshid.
Born in Doha on June 16, 2006, the 19-year-old is the son of Jamshid and Shaima, who moved to Qatar from Kannur, Kerala, in 1996.
His father, currently an accountant in Qatar, also has a footballing background and previously represented the University of Calicut in Kerala.
Tahsin developed through Qatar's renowned Aspire Academy system before joining Al Duhail, where he emerged as one of the country's brightest young attacking prospects.
Described as a quick, direct and impactful winger, he has already represented Qatar at senior, Under-23, Under-20 and youth levels.
He made his senior international debut during a World Cup qualifier against Afghanistan and was subsequently included in Qatar's final World Cup squad.
Tahsin had already made history by becoming....
