New Delhi

A child who once sat on the sidelines watching his father play football in Doha is now set to take the field at the world's biggest football tournament.

Nineteen-year-old Tehseen Mohammad Jamshed has been named in Qatar's squad for the FIFA World Cup 2026, a moment being celebrated not only by his family but also across Kerala, his parents' home state.

Born in Doha to parents from Kerala's Kannur district, Tehseen is set to become the first Malayali footballer to feature in a FIFA World Cup. He currently plays for Al Duhail, one of Qatar's leading clubs, and is a product of the country's renowned Aspire Academy, which has produced many of Qatar's top footballers.

His father, Jamshed Thachankundi, hails from Thalassery, while his mother, Sheema, is from Valapattanam in Kannur. Jamshed himself was a promising footballer whose playing career was cut short by injury. He moved to Qatar in 1996.

Tehseen's football journey began at an early age. As a four-year-old, he would accompany his father to local stadiums on Fridays, then a weekly holiday in Qatar. While Jamshed played with friends and teammates, the young boy sat near the dugout, closely watching the action.

Tehseen Mohammad Jamshed  with his parents Jamshed Thachankundi and Sheema

"He would sit near the dugout and observe everything," Jamshed recalls. "Later, I started teaching him dribbling and the basics of the game."

Jamshed had once shared the field with noted Kerala footballer Joe Paul Ancheri and harboured dreams of playing at a higher level himself. Circumstances took him in a different direction, but today he sees those dreams fulfilled through his son.

"Watching Tehseen represent Qatar at the FIFA World Cup is like a dream come true," he says. "It is a very special moment for our family."

Tehseen's rise has been built on years of disciplined development. He first joined the Sheikh Faisal Bin Qasim Sports Academy, where his talent caught the attention of coaches. In 2017, he was inducted into Al Duhail's youth system before earning admission to Aspire Academy.

Football soon became the centre of his life. Playing as a forward and on both wings, he honed his skills under specialised coaching that focused on movement, positioning and attacking play.

His progress through the national ranks was swift. He represented Qatar's Under-17 side in 2023 and moved into the Under-19 team the following year.

Tehseen Mohammad Jamshed  with his father Jamshed Thachankundi

In September 2024, aged just 17, he made his international debut in a FIFA World Cup qualifier against Afghanistan in Saudi Arabia. The match ended in a goalless draw, but it remains one of the most memorable moments of his career.

"I was in the stadium when he made his debut," says Jamshed. "We cheered for him and for the Qatar team."

Since then, Tehseen has featured in international friendlies against Zimbabwe and Ireland and has also represented Qatar's Under-23 side.

Although he has spent his entire life in Qatar, Tehseen remains connected to his Indian roots. Born and raised in Doha, he holds an Indian passport through his parents but is expected to opt for Qatari citizenship when required to make a choice under the law.

A passionate football fan himself, Tehseen watched the 2022 FIFA World Cup from the stands in Qatar. Now he is preparing to play on the same stage. He is an admirer of Cristiano Ronaldo and closely follows Portugal's matches.

Qatar will begin its World Cup campaign on June 13 against Switzerland in San Francisco, before facing Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina in the group stage.

Back in Kerala, Tehseen's achievement has generated enormous excitement.

"We are receiving countless messages and phone calls from Kerala," says Jamshed. "People tell us they will pray for Tehseen."

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When Qatar takes the field on June 13, one of the players wearing the maroon jersey will be a young winger whose football journey began beside a dugout in Doha. And somewhere in the stands, a proud father will be watching—a man whose own football dreams were interrupted, but whose son has carried them all the way to the World Cup.