Meet Mia Bhuta, the first Indian-American to represent the United States Women’s National Team at the FIFA World Cup.
Born in Pittsburgh, Pa., Bhuta made her FIFA debut in poetic fashion against India’s U-17 team as the two countries are in Group A of the World Cup. However, India’s young team never stood a chance against the U.S. as they poured in 8 goals holding India to zil.
The daughter of a Gujarati father and an American mother, Bhuta made history twice in one night. First, the 16-year-old midfielder not only became the first ever Indian-American to play for the United States Women’s National Soccer team at any World Cup, but she also scored the eighth and final goal in the 62nd minute making her the first Indian-American to score for the nation in any World Cup.
Upon scoring the final goal, Bhuta told The Hindu how happy she was to be in her father’s native country. “I think just being here, it’s amazing,” she said. “I’m so glad I can share this journey with my teammates and expose them to our culture. She told the paper that she’s “just so grateful for my Indian heritage. All the people in my life are always supporting me and for all the lessons they’ve taught me.”
Despite the dominating victory against her father’s home country, the young star used her platform to praise Indian soccer players. “India has so much potential,” she told ESPN after the Oct. 12 game. “There’s so much talent here. The world needs to invest in them more. They need to believe in young girls and give them opportunities to succeed. And I think they can go really far.”
Vyom Bhuta, Mia’s father, was born in Mumbai and emigrated to the United States at age 16 to become an exchange student in New York where he met Mia’s mom, who was from Pittsburgh. Once they got married, the family settled in Mt. Lebanon.
Bhuta graduated from high school a year early, finishing up last June. She is getting her start at Stanford this January, where she will be on the women’s soccer team.
