Socceroo Nishan Vellupillay Eyes World Cup Debut – by Lawrence Machado
Nishan Matthew Velupillay, who has Sri Lankan heritage, has a strong chance of being in the Australian squad at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He is the first footballer of Lankan heritage to play for the Australian football side.
Velupillay follows the success of another Lankan sporting success in Australia, Aden Ekanayake, who has been in classy form for the national rugby sevens side.
The 26-year-old Velupillay was picked by coach Tony Popovic on the back of outstanding form for Melbourne Victory in the A-League. He scored 12 goals to win the club’s Golden Boot in 2025. He has six Australian caps under his belt, scoring against China in a World Cup qualifier just seven minutes after his 2024 debut. To date, he has scored three international goals.
Training With The Socceroos
The powerful left winger is currently with the Socceroos training squad in Florida in preparation for the World Cup, which kicks off on June 26. The Socceroos are grouped with co-hosts USA, Turkiye and Paraguay.
“Every time I wear the shirt, I get a bit of nerves, good nerves,” Velupilay said. “I am looking forward to it again, and it is always a privilege to play under Popa (Popovic), who always gets the best out of me.
“Any way I can help the team, that is my goal. It’s good to have some A-League boys in the team, as I have been with them through the qualifying stage. It’s a privilege (to play for Australia).”
His Dad Sasinath Velupillay is Malaysian with Sri Lankan heritage, while his mother, Gillian, is Anglo Indian. After finishing school at Mazenod, Mulgrave, Vellupillay began his career in the youth academy at Glen Eira FC, FTS (Football Technique School), where one of his coaches Jasper Kristensen, saw his potential right away.
‘He Was A Magician’
“He turned up with really nice technique and a good football understanding, but he was also really shy and a little bit introverted. Whenever we dealt with him in really small group settings, he was great. He had good humour and a great personality,” Kristensen told ABC Sport.
“He was a magician early on. He was the one that could squeeze things through the eye of the needle and he always had those magic feet.
“His peers loved playing with him because he would do interesting things, but while he had that X-factor, he always shared. He was always a good decision-maker.”
Velupillay said he actually did not like football at first. “When I first tried it, I didn’t really like it, but after a while I got into it and I’ve been playing ever since,” he told ABC Sport.
“The first time I tried it, I was really young, I was like five years old, and I didn’t really like it. But once you start scoring goals, everything is alright.
‘You See Them As One Of Your Own’
“As a kid, you see everyone the same; you don’t really make a distinction between cultures or anything like that, you just see them as one of your own.
“That’s the beauty of the game, so many people can play it. Especially in Australia, you look at everyone playing in different leagues and in the national team, everyone is from a different culture.”
Velupillay is said to be the first Australian of South Asian descent to play for the Socceroos and won’t be the last, with many coming through the junior ranks.
“The thing with football is you experience a different thing every day,” he said. “There’s so many highs and lows, but around 16, I started believing I could do something with my football, and I got the opportunity to come to Victory (he signed in 2019), and I’m grateful for that.”
He is keen that youngsters should enjoy the game first and foremost. Having come through the junior Australian ranks where there is so much competition, Velupillay knows first-hand the ups and downs.
“Once you become a professional player, there are a lot of kids watching you and wanting to be in your position when they grow up,” he said.
“That’s the responsibility you have as a player when you enter these levels of football. I was once a kid, and you always idolise anyone from the national team.
“I Don’t Like The Attention As Much’
“I’m a very chilled and low-key guy and I don’t really like the attention as much. I just go around doing my own business, and when people recognise me, I appreciate it.”
Popovic’s final 26-player squad will be announced on Monday, June 1. The World Cup will be jointly hosted by Canada. Mexico and Canada from June 11-July 19. There are 48 teams in the 23rd edition of the world’s biggest individual sporting event. Argentina are the reigning champions.
