Sarpreet Singh Makes History At 2026 FIFA World Cup, Indian-Origin New Zealand Footballer Becomes..

Published 16 June 2026 · sports

Sarpreet Singh Makes History At 2026 FIFA World Cup, Indian-Origin New Zealand Footballer Becomes... Published By, Last Updated: June 16, 2026, 14:39 IST Sarpreet Singh

Sarpreet Singh Makes History At 2026 FIFA World Cup, Indian-Origin New Zealand Footballer Becomes... Published By, Last Updated: June 16, 2026, 14:39 IST Sarpreet Singh becomes first footballer of Indian origin to start a FIFA World Cup match, starring in New Zealands 2-2 draw with Iran. Rapid Read FIFA World Cup 2026: New Zealand's Sarpreet Singh playing against Iran (AP) New Zealand attacking midfielder Sarpreet Singh became the first footballer of Indian origin to start a FIFA World Cup match, featuring in his team’s 2-2 draw against Iran in their group game in Los Angeles on Tuesday. Born in Auckland to Punjabi parents, the 27-year-old made his World Cup debut in the politically charged match and had several attempts on the Iranian goal. He was named in the starting XI by head coach Darren Bazeley and played almost the entire game, being substituted only in the 90th minute. Coach Bazeley kept faith with Sarpreet until the end as Iran twice came back from a goal down to secure a 2-2 draw. Wearing the No. 10 jersey, Sarpreet registered three shots on goal, including one in the 61st minute that was kept out by the Iran goalkeeper. He operated in central areas in New Zealand’s 4-2-3-1 formation. New Zealand will face Egypt in their second Group G match on June 21 in Vancouver. Two days earlier, Nishan Velupillay of Australia, another player of Indian descent, made his World Cup debut in his team’s 2-0 win over Turkiye in Vancouver, Canada.

The 25-year-old winger did not start and came off the bench in the 60th minute. Velupillay was born in Melbourne to an Anglo-Indian mother and a Malaysian father of Sri Lankan Tamil descent. Before this edition of the FIFA World Cup, jointly hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico, Vikash Dhorasoo of France was the only player of Indian descent to have played in a World Cup match. The midfielder, now 52, appeared in two group games at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, where France finished runners-up. Dhorasoo, whose forefathers had their roots in Vizianagaram in Andhra Pradesh, actually played only a few minutes in total across those two matches. He came off the bench in the 84th minute in France’s 0-0 draw with Switzerland on June 13, 2006. Five days later, he again appeared as a substitute, coming on in the 88th minute in the 1-1 draw against South Korea. Sarpreet Played In India In 2018 Sarpreet also played in India during the Intercontinental Cup in 2018 in Mumbai. He faced the likes of Sunil Chhetri after making his New Zealand debut earlier that year. He was part of an U23 development side, as New Zealand did not send their first team. Sarpreet scored against Kenya and provided both assists in New Zealand’s 2-1 win against India. India won the title, while New Zealand finished third in the four-nation tournament. A year later, Sarpreet became the first player of Indian descent to play in the German first division when he debuted for Bayern Munich in 2019.