3 cricketers who attended FIFA World Cup 2026 matches live

It is safe to say that the FIFA World Cup is the biggest sporting event in the world, with millions of fans flying to the host countries to witness some of the greatest athletes live in person. Amongst the fans witnessing the global spectacle are cricketers, who specially take time out from their busy schedule to watch the football tournament. 

Several cricketers are avid football fans, including Kuldeep Yadav, Stuart Broad and Virat Kohli, to name a few. However, only a select bunch have visited a FIFA World Cup game in person. 

Here are three cricketers who have attended the FIFA World Cup:

3. Ellyse Perry – Australia

The first member on the list actually attended a FIFA World Cup, not as a fan but as a player! Australian all-rounder Ellyse Perry has represented her nation in both international cricket and football. Four years after making her cricket debut for the Aussies, Perry, who was juggling two sports, was selected in Australia’s women’s soccer team squad for the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany. 

Perry made two appearances for Australia in the tournament. Most famously, she scored a goal against Sweden in the quarter-finals, which her side went on to lose 3-1. She thus became the only professional athlete to feature in both the ICC Women’s World Cup and the FIFA Women’s World Cup. 

Perry, however, decided to leave football behind in 2013 and fully focus on cricket. She recently won the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup in England.

2. Ravi Shastri – India 

Former India all-rounder and head coach Ravi Shastri was one of the few lucky individuals to attend the 2022 FIFA World Cup final in Lusail between Argentina and France. The former player-turned-commentator witnessed footballing icon Lionel Messi lift his maiden World Cup with Argentina against a strong French side featuring Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, and Antoine Griezmann.

Shastri also shared an Instagram post of him watching the game from the stands, commenting how a 35-year-old Messi had put Argentina a goal ahead in the showpiece match in Qatar.

1. Yashasvi Jaiswal – India 

The most recent entry on the list, Yashasvi Jaiswal, flew to the United States to watch the most recent FIFA World Cup. The left-handed batter was in attendance for France’s knockout match against Sweden, which the 2018 champions won 3-0 at the New York New Jersey Stadium. 

Despite watching a France game, Jaiswal wore an Argentina home shirt with Messi’s name on the back. The opening batter has not been included in any of India’s white-ball squad travelling to England, allowing him this golden opportunity.