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Australian winger Nishan Velupillay has become the first player of Malaysian descent to play in the World Cup
The 25-year-old came off the bench to help the Socceroos secure a clinical 2-0 victory over Türkiye in their Group D opening match.
The player, of Tamil-Malaysian descent, was substituted in the 61st minute of the match.
Nishan's sharp presence on the pitch helped propel Australia to victory in Vancouver, Canada
Managed by Tony Popovic, the Australian national team delivered a strong performance throughout the match.
Nishan was active on the flanks, proving to be a useful attacking option for the squad.
According to the New Straits Times, the player has deep Malaysian roots despite being born in Melbourne.
His father, Sasinath Velupillay, is a Malaysian of Sri Lankan Tamil descent, while his mother, Gillian Velupillay, is of Anglo-Indian heritage
Long before his World Cup debut, Nishan developed through the Melbourne Victory youth system, eventually breaking into the senior squad.
During the 2024-2025 season, he emerged as the club's top scorer, cementing his status as a rising international star and earning a spot in Popovic's World Cup squad.
