British South Asians in football: Team of the Season 2025/26
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- Sky Sports' Dev Trehan and Desi Ballers' Zohaib Rashid selected the fourth annual British South Asians in Football Team of the Season for 2025/26, with nine players retaining their places from the previous campaign.
- Zidane Iqbal appeared in the Eredivisie and Europa League for FC Utrecht, became the first British South Asian to play at a World Cup, and featured in all three of Iraq's games over the summer.
- Mariam Mahmood made her international debut for Pakistan, joined Wrexham, and became the first Pakistani female to win a top-division European title as the club completed a historic league and cup double.
- Hamza Choudhury played 32 matches for Leicester City and scored on his home debut for Bangladesh, instantly becoming a national hero in the country.
- Yan Dhanda featured in 31 matches on loan at Dundee from Hearts, helping the club comfortably retain their Scottish Premiership status for next season.
- Millie Chandarana became an 'Invincible' for the second consecutive season as Burnley went unbeaten in the league to win the title and earn promotion to Women's Super League 2, signing a new deal.
- Kam Kandola played 38 matches for Kidderminster Harriers as they clinched promotion to the National League via the play-offs, and has joined Hereford for the new season.
Why it matters: British South Asian footballers logged visible milestones in 2025/26 — Zidane Iqbal became the first to play at a World Cup, Mariam Mahmood the first Pakistani female to win a top-division European title, and promotion-winning campaigns at Kidderminster and unbeaten Burnley added silverware. With nine players retaining their places from the prior season, the community's on-field presence at clubs across England, Scotland, the Netherlands, and at international level is broadening, not fleeting.
