Nishan Velupillay
India didn’t qualify, but an Indian-origin star just made World Cup history for Australia
India may not have qualified for the ongoing FIFA World Cup, but Indian football fans had reason to celebrate as Indian-origin footballer Nishan Velupillay made his tournament debut for Australia in their Group Stage clash against Turkey on Saturday.
In one of the tournament's early upsets, Australia defeated Turkey 2-0 to boost their chances of progressing to the knockout stages.
Velupillay was introduced in the 61st minute and played a key role in helping Australia preserve their two-goal advantage and secure all three points.
The 24-year-old forward rose through local football ranks and Melbourne Victory's academy system before making his senior debut for Australia in 2024.
He earned his first cap in a FIFA World Cup qualifier against China and has since become a regular member of the national setup.
Including his World Cup debut against Turkey, Velupillay has now made eight appearances for the Australian national team.
The forward has scored three international goals so far, all of them coming in FIFA World Cup qualifying matches.
With his appearance in the ongoing tournament, Velupillay has become the first player of Indian origin to feature in the FIFA World Cup 2026.
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