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Indian-Origin Star Powers NZ in World Cup Opener
16 Jun
Summary
- Sarpreet Singh, of Indian heritage, starts for New Zealand's World Cup opener.
- He is one of four players with Indian roots at the tournament.
- Singh's career includes a stint with German club Bayern Munich.
Sarpreet Singh, a New Zealand footballer of Indian heritage, has been named in the starting lineup for his country's FIFA World Cup 2026 match against Iran. The game is scheduled to take place at the Los Angeles Stadium on Tuesday.
Singh is among four players with Indian origins participating in this year's World Cup, held in North America. This appearance marks New Zealand's third World Cup participation and their first since 2010.
Born and raised in Auckland, Singh's journey began at a local soccer academy before he joined Wellington Phoenix Academy. His performances in youth international tournaments, including the U-20 World Cup, attracted European clubs.
In 2019, Singh made history by becoming the first New Zealander since Wynton Rufer to be signed by a Bundesliga team, joining German giants Bayern Munich. However, his career faced a significant setback in 2020 with a serious osteitis pubis injury.
Despite the challenges in his European club career, Singh has achieved considerable success with the New Zealand national team, representing them since 2018.
