Indian-Origin Footballers at FIFA World Cup 2026: The Complete Data Breakdown

Inside the Portugal vs DR Congo World Cup Opener

On June 17, 2026, at NRG Stadium in Houston, DR Congo faced Portugal in their opening Group K fixture. Joao Neves put Portugal ahead in the sixth minute, but Newcastle forward Yoane Wissa equalised right at the end of the first half off an Arthur Masuaku corner.

Moutoussamy played the full 90 minutes in central midfield, helping DR Congo hold out for a 1-1 draw against a Cristiano Ronaldo led Portugal side, a genuinely strong result for a team ranked 46th in the world.

Why This Story Resonates Across the GCC

Qatar, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia host millions of Indian and Tamil workers and professionals, many of whom arrived through labour migration patterns that echo, in their own way, what happened to Indian workers in 19th century Guadeloupe.

For Tamil families in Doha or Abu Dhabi watching the World Cup, seeing a name like Moutoussamy on a Group K team sheet is an unexpected but genuine point of connection, even though India itself did not qualify for the tournament.

Common Mistakes Fans Make About His Identity

Assuming he represents India. He has never played for India and has never been part of the Indian football system.
Calling his country “Congo” instead of DR Congo. The Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo are two different countries with two different national teams.
Misspelling his surname as “Mouttasammy” or similar variants online, which makes it harder to find verified information about him