What does it feel like when a boy from your village—a boy whose family left for New Zealand 35 years ago—walks onto the biggest football stage on the planet, wearing the No. 10 jersey for his country? For the 5,000 residents of Dhada Khurd in Hoshiarpur, it feels like vindication. It feels like pride. It feels like their own son has made it. And when Sarpreet Singh stepped onto the pitch at the Los Angeles Stadium on June 15, 2026, to become the first footballer of Indian origin to start a FIFA World Cup match, a village that has produced footballers for generations found its biggest star yet. The journey from the dusty grounds of Mahilpur—known as the cradle of football in Punjab—to the floodlit stadiums of the World Cup is a story of migration, sacrifice, and an unbreakable bond with home.
The Historic Moment
On June 15, 2026, New Zealand's attacking midfielder Sarpreet Singh created history. Named in the starting XI by head coach Darren Bazeley for New Zealand's Group G clash against Iran at the Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood, California, Singh became the first footballer of Indian origin to start a FIFA World Cup match.
Wearing the No. 10 jersey, Singh played almost the entire match before being substituted in the 90th minute. Operating centrally in New Zealand's 4-2-3-1 formation, he registered three attempts on goal, including a strike in the 61st minute that was kept out by the Iranian goalkeeper. The match ended in a 2-2 draw, with Iran twice coming from behind to secure a point.
New Zealand will face Egypt in their second Group G fixture in Vancouver on June 21. But for Singh and his family, the historic debut was already a victory beyond measure.
The Journey: From Auckland to Bayern Munich
Born in Auckland to Punjabi parents who had migrated from Jalandhar, Singh's love for football started early. "Sarpreet started playing football when he was just two-and-a-half years old," his mother, Sarabjit Kaur, told The Tribune over the phone from the United States, where she is watching her son compete. "He began with local clubs, and many members of our family have been involved in sports. Football was always his passion, and he devoted himself completely to the game".
Starting at the Wynrs Wynton Rufer Soccer Academy at the age of seven, Singh joined the Wellington Phoenix Academy in 2015. He was part of the New Zealand team at the U-17 Oceania Cup and U-20 World Cups, and his performance in the latter—scoring one goal as New Zealand reached the last 16—caught the attention of European clubs.
In 2019, Singh was picked by German giant Bayern Munich, becoming the first New Zealand player since Wynton Rufer to be signed by a Bundesliga team. He became the first player of Indian descent to appear in Germany's top division when he made his Bundesliga debut for Bayern Munich against Werder Bremen in 2019. He initially featured for Bayern Munich's reserve side in the third division before earning a first-team opportunity under then coach Hansi Flick. Singh made his first senior start for Bayern on June 20, 2020, against SC Freiburg and was part of the squad that won the Bundesliga title in the 2019-20 season.
The hardest challenge came in 2020. Just as he was poised to break out, Singh was diagnosed with a significant osteitis pubis injury—a phase he called the toughest of his career. After spells in Portugal and Serbia, he returned to New Zealand this year and recovered from injury to secure a place in the country's 26-member World Cup squad. He currently plays for Wellington Phoenix in the Australian A-League.
The India Connection
Singh's connection to India runs deep. He played in India during the 2018 Intercontinental Cup in Mumbai, shortly after making his senior debut for New Zealand. He featured for an Under-23 development side, scored against Kenya, and set up both goals in New Zealand's 2-1 victory over India. India went on to win the title, while New Zealand finished third.
His mother, Sarabjit Kaur, emphasized the family's enduring connection to Punjab. "We are very connected to Punjab, and those feelings are there in Sarpreet as well," she said. Despite living abroad, Sarabjit said she has visited the state many times, and Sarpreet also travelled to India around 2017-18 for a match.
The Village Celebration: Dhada Khurd Rejoices
Thousands of miles away from the Los Angeles Stadium, in the village of Dhada Khurd in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, the excitement has been palpable. Known as the cradle of football, Mahilpur in Punjab has found a special reason to celebrate. The village, where Singh's maternal family hails from, has been abuzz with pride and celebration.
Following news of Singh's World Cup selection, his mother, Sarabjit Kaur, requested retired school principal Sukhchain Singh, a close family friend, to distribute prashad at the village gurdwara in gratitude. Before Singh prepared to leave for the tournament, she again requested an Ardas at the gurdwara.
In a gesture aimed at nurturing future talent, she sent sports kits for around 40 footballers training at the Principal Harbhajan Singh Sporting Club in Mahilpur, hoping to encourage young players pursuing the sport that shaped her son's life.
"Even after moving to New Zealand, Sarpreet's mother remained in touch with people here and has helped many needy families. When his World Cup selection was confirmed, she immediately wanted to share the happiness with the village," Sukhchain Singh said.
Dr. Parampreet Kandowal, General Secretary of the Principal Harbhajan Singh Memorial Club, described Singh as one of the few footballers of Indian origin to represent his nation at the FIFA World Cup. "It is a matter of great pride for Punjabis. Her gesture of sending kits for young players makes this achievement even more meaningful for us," Kandowal said.
Principal Parvinder Singh of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Khalsa College, Mahilpur, which is associated with the sporting club, said that Mahilpur's rich footballing tradition makes Singh's success even more special. "Mahilpur has been known as the cradle of football in Punjab for generations. Sarpreet Singh's connection with this region is a source of immense pride," he said. "For the young footballers who received the kits, Sarpreet's story is proof that dedication can take a player to the sport's biggest stage".
A Historic Achievement for Indian-Origin Football
Singh's feat comes two days after Australia's Nishan Velupillay, another player of Indian descent, made his World Cup debut in a 2-0 win over Turkiye. Before the ongoing FIFA World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico, former France midfielder Vikash Dhorasoo was the only player of Indian descent to feature in a World Cup match. Dhorasoo, whose ancestors hailed from Vizianagaram in Andhra Pradesh, played two group-stage matches during the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
Sarpreet Singh, along with Velupillay, Samuel Moutoussamy of DR Congo, and Tahsin Mohammed Jamshid of Qatar, are the four Indian-origin players at this year's tournament. Under FIFA rules, a player can represent a country if a parent or grandparent was born there and the player holds that nation's passport.
The Pride of a Village
As Singh prepares to represent New Zealand at the FIFA World Cup, the people of Dhada Khurd will be cheering not just for an international footballer, but also for someone they proudly consider one of their own. His mother, Sarabjit Kaur, summed up the family's pride: "Sarpreet's achievement is the result of years of hard work. We are immensely proud of him".
For the young footballers of Mahilpur who received the kits, Singh's story is a beacon of hope. It is proof that a boy from a small village—even one whose family left decades ago—can make it to the biggest stage in world football. And as Singh continues his World Cup campaign, the beats of celebration in Dhada Khurd will only grow louder.
