New Zealand's Sarpreet becomes first player of Indian origin to start a FIFA World Cup match
New Zealand midfielder Sarpreet Singh has become the first player of Indian origin to start a FIFA World Cup match during a 2-2 draw against Iran. This milestone follows the recent debut of Australian player Nishan Velupillay, marking a significant moment for South Asian representation in global football.
Why it matters
It represents a historic breakthrough for athletes of Indian descent in professional international football, a sport where they have historically been underrepresented.
New Zealand attacking midfielder Sarpreet Singh became the first footballer of Indian origin to start a FIFA World Cup match in his team s 2-2 draw against Iran in their group match in Los Angeles on Tuesday (June 16, 2026).
The article reports on sports statistics and historical facts without political or social bias.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in