India head coach Khalid Jamil names 26-player squad for Panama, Brazil and Uruguay friendlies
India will begin the September-October window against Panama.
Indian men’s national team head coach Khalid Jamil named his 26-player squad for the September-October FIFA International Match Window on Monday, August 31, 2026.
The Blue Tigers will play three international friendlies against higher-ranked opposition, facing Panama on September 26 in Bengaluru before taking on five-time world champions Brazil on October 3 and two-time world champions Uruguay on October 6, both in Kolkata.
The three matches will provide India with valuable opportunities to test themselves against World Cup opposition, with all three nations having featured at the FIFA World Cup held earlier this year.
Jamil’s side will begin their preparatory camp on September 14 in Bengaluru. After the match against Panama, the Blue Tigers will travel to Kolkata on September 28 for their remaining two fixtures.
Squad for the September-October FIFA international friendlies
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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.
Head coach: Khalid Jamil
Four players have been named as reserves — goalkeeper Hrithik Tiwari, defenders Chinglensana Singh Konsham and Roshan Singh Naorem, and midfielder Suresh Singh Wangjam — and may be called up to the squad if required.
India’s upcoming schedule
Indian men’s senior football team are facing a packed schedule for the rest of the 2026 calendar year as they will be facing four FIFA World Cup 2026 nations this year.
The Blue Tigers will first get things started when they play Panama on September 26th at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru.
Next up, in the same window the Blue Tigers will first play five times FIFA World Cup winners Brazil on October 3rd and two times FIFA World Cup winners Uruguay on October 6th with both games scheduled to be played at the VYBK Stadium in Kolkata.
Following that, the focus will shift to the SAFF Championship which will played in November. However, the big problem lies ahead as the Blue Tigers are expected to travel to New Zealand to play two friendlies against them on November 12th and 15th with the dates clashing with the SAFF Championship 2026.
A decision is yet to be made but as things stand India will be playing these games in the coming months.
- 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
- November 5: Pakistan vs India (SAFF Championship)
- November 11: India vs Maldives (SAFF Championship)
- November 14: SAFF Championship Semi-finals (if qualified)
- November 17: SAFF Championship Final (if qualified)
- November 12: New Zealand vs India, Go Media Stadium, Auckland
- November 15: New Zealand vs India, One New Zealand Stadium, Christchurch
When will India play Brazil, Panama and Uruguay?
India will first play Panama on 26th September in Bengaluru. Following that they will take on Brazil on 3rd October and Uruguay on 6th October in Kolkata.
When will India begin their camp for Brazil, Panama and Uruguay friendlies?
Jamil’s side will begin their preparatory camp on September 14 in Bengaluru. After the match against Panama, the Blue Tigers will travel to Kolkata on September 28 for their remaining two fixtures.
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