When the FIFA World Cup arrives, Kerala transforms.
Flags of Argentina, Brazil, Portugal, England, France and countless other nations line the streets. Giant cutouts of football stars rise above junctions and open grounds, turning entire neighbourhoods into World Cup arenas.
That’s what makes Kerala unique. Football is more than a sport here. It is a festival.
Regardless of age or gender, everyone seems to have an opinion on football during World Cup season. Conversations move from tea shops to offices and family gatherings. Every four years, the state lives and breathes the tournament.
You could even find someone passionately supporting one of the tournament’s lesser known teams for no reason other than their love for the game. That’s the beauty of football in Kerala.
And now, there is an extra reason for Malayalis to be excited.
While India remains some distance away from qualifying for the World Cup, even after the tournament’s expansion to 48 teams, that is a discussion for another day. For now, let’s focus on the positive. A boy with roots in Kerala is set to experience football’s biggest stage in the colours of Qatar.
When Qatar head coach Julen Lopetegui announced his 26 man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, one name stood out for football fans in Kerala.
19 year old Tahsin Mohammed Jamshid, whose family roots trace back to Kannur, has been named in Qatar’s squad for the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico. If he takes the field, Tahsin will become the first footballer with Kerala roots and the first player of Indian origin to play at a FIFA World Cup.
From Kannur roots to the Qatar national team
Tahsin was born and raised in Doha to parents from Kerala. His father Jamshid hails from Thalassery, while his mother Shyma is from Valapattanam in Kannur district.
The family moved to Qatar in 1996, and Tahsin grew up immersed in the country’s football culture. Holding Qatari citizenship, he developed through the renowned Aspire Academy, which has produced several stars of Qatar’s national team.
His father, himself a talented footballer who represented Calicut University, played a major role in inspiring his son’s journey.
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