A historic milestone for the global Indian community was achieved at the FIFA World Cup as Sarpreet Singh became the first player of Indian origin to start a World Cup match.
Representing New Zealand in a Group G encounter against Iran in Los Angeles, the 27-year-old attacking midfielder earned a place in the starting lineup and played nearly the entire match as the teams battled to an entertaining 2-2 draw.
Born in Auckland to Punjabi parents, Sarpreet’s appearance marked a proud moment for the Indian diaspora worldwide. Wearing the prestigious No. 10 jersey, he played a key role in New Zealand’s midfield, creating opportunities and testing the Iranian defence with several attempts on goal. His strongest effort came midway through the second half, although he was unable to beat the Iranian goalkeeper. Head coach Darren Bazeley showed confidence in the midfielder by keeping him on the field until the 90th minute.
The achievement is particularly significant because no player of Indian origin had previously started a FIFA World Cup match. The only other footballer of Indian heritage to have appeared in a World Cup before this tournament was Vikash Dhorasoo, who represented France during the 2006 FIFA World Cup. However, Dhorasoo featured only as a late substitute in two matches and never started a game.
Sarpreet’s football journey has been remarkable. In 2018, he played in India during the Intercontinental Cup in Mumbai, where he impressed against the Indian national team led by legendary striker Sunil Chhetri. During the tournament, Sarpreet scored against Kenya and provided two assists in New Zealand’s victory over India.
His performances soon attracted international attention, and in 2019 he made history again by becoming the first player of Indian descent to play in Germany’s top football division with Bayern Munich. After initially featuring for Bayern’s reserve side, his talent earned him opportunities with the first team under coach Hansi Flick. He was also part of the Bayern Munich squad that won the Bundesliga title during the 2019-20 season.
Following his time in Germany, Sarpreet continued his professional career in Portugal and Serbia before returning to New Zealand on loan to play for Wellington Phoenix. Despite suffering an injury earlier this year that sidelined him for two months, he recovered in time to earn selection for New Zealand’s World Cup squad.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup has also highlighted the growing presence of players of Indian heritage on the global football stage. Australian winger Nishan Velupillay recently made his World Cup debut, while Indian-origin players Samuel Moutoussamy of DR Congo and Tahsin Mohammed Jamshid of Qatar are also part of their respective national squads.
For millions of football fans of Indian origin around the world, Sarpreet Singh’s achievement represents far more than a personal milestone. It symbolizes the growing influence and contribution of the Indian diaspora to international football and serves as an inspiration to young players who dream of one day competing on the sport’s biggest stage.