KOCHI: Tahsin Jamshid is on the verge of doing what very few Indians expected to see in a World Cup. The nineteen-year-old is set to become the first Indian passport holder to play in a World Cup after Qatar named him in their 26-member squad for the showpiece event in the US, Canada and Mexico.Born in Doha to parents from Kerala, Tahsin is about to realise every Indian football lover’s dream on world sport’s grandest stage. Along with the Indian passport, he has a Qatari mission passport, a special document that allows foreign-born athletes to represent Qatar in international competitions.“This is such a joyous moment for me personally. To see my son achieve the heights I dreamt of at his age is truly remarkable,” Tahsin’s father Jamshid Thachankandy told TOI over phone from Doha. Jamshid himself had played for the Kerala sub-junior team in 1985.How Kerala boy Tahsin took flight with QatarUnlike full citizenship, the mission passport is limited in scope and does not provide the broader social rights, permanent status, or financial benefits available to Qatari nationals.Jamshid is from Thalassery, while his wife Shaima hails from Valapattanam in Kannur district. The family moved to Qatar years ago seeking better opportunities, but Jamshid carried his love for football with him.“Tahsin’s biggest strength is that he can play on both wings and can also be used as a striker. He has an extraordinary dribbling ability and is aggressive inside the box,” the proud father said.Tahsin’s progress accelerated through Qatar’s Aspire Football Academy. The young midfielder drew attention in 2021 when he broke into Qatar’s Under-16 national team. He then moved up to the Under-17 squad and continued his development at Al Duhail, the powerhouse of Qatar Stars League. He was also part of the Qatar U-17 side that played India’s youth team during an exposure tour in 2023.After impressing at the AFC U-20 Asian Cup in China, he made his senior debut for Qatar in a World Cup qualifier against Afghanistan in June 2024.For Tahsin, the selection to Qatar’s World Cup squad is almost as if realising his father’s own fervent dream, as his own football journey shaped his son’s path. A former Calicut University player, he became Tahsin’s first coach and mentor, introducing him to the game early and guiding his development.Jamshid’s own playing career was promising. He represented the Kerala sub-junior team in 1985 and later progressed through junior and youth levels, playing alongside former India international Jo Paul Anchery. However, his rise was cut short when an injury forced him to retire at just 25.However, the setback did not diminish Jamshid’s commitment to football. After moving to Qatar, he continued to stay close to the sport while working at a private company in Doha. In his free time, he accompanied Tahsin and his elder brother, Michelle, to the football grounds and kept an eye on their structured training.
