India's men's football team will play three international friendlies this September and October — Panama on September 26 in Bengaluru, then five-time world champions Brazil on October 3 and two-time world champions Uruguay on October 6, both at Kolkata's Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan — marking India's first-ever meetings with both Brazil and Uruguay.
The Full Fixture List
- September 26: India vs Panama — Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru
- October 3: India vs Brazil — Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata
- October 6: India vs Uruguay — Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata
Head coach Khalid Jamil's squad begins its preparatory camp in Bengaluru on September 14, plays Panama, then travels to Kolkata on September 28 for the back-to-back fixtures against Brazil and Uruguay.
Why This Window Is a Genuine Step Up
All three opponents represent a jump in quality from India's usual friendly schedule. Panama, ranked 44th in the world, played at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Brazil are the most successful nation in World Cup history with five titles, and Uruguay have won the tournament twice — neither side has ever played India before. India itself was ranked 136th in the world as of April 2026.
"This is a very important window for us, with three challenging matches against teams that have played at the World Cup," Jamil said of the schedule.
Khalid Jamil's 26-Player Squad
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
The squad was named on August 31, 2026.
What's Still Unconfirmed
Exact kickoff times and ticket sale details have not been officially announced for any of the three matches at the time of writing. The AIFF is expected to release timing and ticketing information closer to each fixture.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does India play Brazil in football?
October 3, 2026, at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata — the first-ever meeting between the two nations.
When does India play Uruguay in football?
October 6, 2026, also in Kolkata, three days after the Brazil fixture. It's also India's first-ever match against Uruguay.
Where is India vs Panama being played?
September 26, 2026, at Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru.
Who is India's football coach?
Khalid Jamil, who named a 26-player squad for this window on August 31, 2026.
Has India ever played Brazil or Uruguay before?
No — the October 3 and October 6 fixtures will be India's first-ever meetings with either nation.
What is India's FIFA ranking?
136th in the world as of April 2026, the most recent ranking available.