Top three new faces in Indian football team squad for September-October FIFA window
India will face Panama, Brazil and Uruguay in the window.
The Indian National Football Team is heading towards a landmark September-October FIFA match window as the Blue Tigers are all geared to face Panama, Brazil and Uruguay, three teams which recently featured in the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Citing scheduling conflicts with the match against Brazil, the AIFF recently announced that they will not be participating in the ASEAN Cup, as facing a five-time World Cup champion offers invaluable high-level experience and an introspection on how India compares to the global giants in footballing terms.
Along with the match against Brazil, AIFF announced that the Blue Tigers will be also face 44th ranked Panama and two-time World Cup winners Uruguay in the same window.
The historic window begins with the match against Panama, for their first-ever meeting on the 26th of September at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru. Following the match, the team will travel to Kolkata to face the heavyweights, Brazil, at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan.
This will be the highest ranked-team that India has ever faced in their footballing history. The highly anticipated match will take place on the 3rd of October. Later, India will also face Uruguay on the 6th of October at the same venue.
Ahead of the landmark FIFA match window, the squad has been named by head coach Khalid Jamil. Here is a look at the top three new faces in the India squad for the FIFA match window.
Som Kumar
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The 21-year-old former Kerala Blasters FC goalkeeper Som Kumar is one of the new faces in the squad. Som is joined by Albino Gomes, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and Prabhsukhan Singh Gill in the goalkeeping unit. The keeper currently plays for ND Slovan Ljubljana, featuring in the Slovenian second-division league.
Despite being named in the probables for the India squad for the Unity Cup, earlier this year, the keeper did not make it into the final squad. However, this time Som has earned a well-deserved inclusion in the senior team, where he could potentially feature in any of the matches if he manages to impress Khalid Jamil in the camp.
Despite having a lucrative offer from Kerala Blasters, Som prioritised game time and made a move to Slovenia. At ND Slovan Ljubljana, Som made 17 appearances and had a total game time of 1521 minutes and even managed two clean sheets.
With a total of 61 saves and an average save percentage of 65.4%, Som has saved his team during multiple instances. ND Slovan Ljubljana are now placed third in the league table, and a significant credit goes to the keeper for this position. Som’s inclusion in the squad brings in international experience at such a young age into the squad, and if he can make his mark this time, he could potentially be a new regular in the national team goalkeeping unit.
Also Read: India head coach Khalid Jamil names 26-player squad for Panama, Brazil and Uruguay friendlies
Ricky Meetei
Ricky Meetei is arguably one of the most exciting young prospects in the 26-member-squad for the FIFA window. The defender joins a robust defensive unit alongside Abhishek Singh Tekcham, Akash Mishra, Anwar Ali, Bijoy Varghese, Hmingthanmawia Ralte, Jay Gupta, and Pramveer. The right-back, currently a part of Bengaluru FC’s squad, had been a regular during the club’s previous Indian Super League campaign.
At the club level, Ricky made seven appearances in the Indian Super League for Bengaluru FC and registered a total of 353 minutes on the pitch. With a strong number of tackles, clearances, and interceptions, Ricky has done a good job of keeping opponents away from his box. Ricky has also been pivotal in providing the balls higher up the pitch and has displayed an overall 85.9% passing accuracy.
Having previously gained valuable exposure representing the India U23 team, the call-up presents a massive opportunity for the Manipuri defender to showcase his abilities on a larger stage. With his natural pace, solid defensive awareness, and ability to contribute effectively on the flanks, Ricky becomes a dynamic option for Khalid Jamil at the back.
Mohammed Sanan
The 22-year-old, former Jamshedpur FC midfielder has been one of the biggest additions in the India squad, and he joins the midfield cohort along with the likes of Anirudh Thapa, Ashique, Farukh Choudhary, Lalengmawia Ralte, Macarton, Ricky Shabong and Sahal Abdul Samad.
Clocking 57 appearances and netting seven goals for Jamshedpur FC, the Malappuram-born attacker has been a potent threat for the opponents whenever he has stepped on the pitch.
With an impressive ability to take on defenders, deliver dangerous crosses, and execute quick interchanges, Sanan has consistently kept opposition backlines on high alert. He has been pivotal in driving the ball higher up the pitch during transitions, showcasing excellent close control and a highly commendable passing accuracy when operating in tight spaces.
Having previously proved his mettle with the India U23, Sanan’s rise to the senior camp presents him with the ultimate platform to inject fresh attacking impetus needed to unlock the tight opponent defences.
Sanan was earlier called for the AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Bangladesh. He was also called for thr Unity Cup and the Tajikistan friendlies, although he had very limited to little game time for the senior team.
India Squad for the September-October FIFA match window
- Goalkeepers : Albino Gomes, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Prabhsukhan Singh Gill, Som Kumar
- Defenders : Abhishek Singh Tekcham, Akash Mishra, Anwar Ali, Bijoy Varghese, Hmingthanmawia Ralte, Jay Gupta, Pramveer, Ricky Meetei Haobam
- Midfielders : Anirudh Thapa, Ashique Kuruniyan, Farukh Choudhary, Lalengmawia Ralte, Macarton Nickson, Mohammed Sanan, Ricky Shabong, Sahal Abdul Samad
- Forwards : Edmund Lalrindika, Irfan Yadwad, Manvir Singh, Rahim Ali, Ryan Williams, Vikram Partap Singh
India’s fixtures in the FIFA match window
- September 26: India vs Panama, Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru
- October 3: India vs Brazil, VYBK Stadium, Kolkata
- October 6: India vs Uruguay, VYBK Stadium, Kolkata
Which teams will India face in the September-October FIFA match window?
India will face Panama, Brazil and Uruguay in the upcoming FIFA match window. India will face Panama on September 26, 2026, at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru. It will be the first-ever meeting between the two sides.
Who are the three new faces in India’s squad?
The three highlighted new faces are Som Kumar, Ricky Meetei Haobam and Mohammed Sanan.
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