India football is stepping into its biggest international window in years. 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, with the Blue Tigers set to face three nations that all featured at the 2026 FIFA World Cup — Panama, Brazil, and Uruguay.
Table of Contents
Fixture Schedule: At a Glance
| Match | Date | Venue | City |
|---|---|---|---|
| India vs Panama | September 26, 2026 | Sree Kanteerava Stadium | Bengaluru |
| India vs Brazil | October 3, 2026 | Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium) | Kolkata |
| India vs Uruguay | October 6, 2026 | Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium) | Kolkata |
Squad Overview: Numbers at a Glance
| Position | Number of Players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | 4 |
| Defenders | 8 |
| Midfielders | 8 |
| Forwards | 6 |
| Total | 26 |
India’s Full 26-Player Squad
Goalkeepers
| Player |
|---|
| Gurpreet Singh Sandhu |
| Albino Gomes |
| Prabhsukhan Singh Gill |
| Som Kumar |
Defenders
| Player |
|---|
| Anwar Ali |
| Akash Mishra |
| Abhishek Singh Tekcham |
| Bijoy Varghese |
| Hmingthanmawia Ralte |
| Jay Gupta |
| Pramveer |
| Ricky Meetei Haobam |
Midfielders
| Player |
|---|
| Anirudh Thapa |
| Ashique Kuruniyan |
| Farukh Choudhary |
| Lalengmawia Ralte |
| Macarton Nickson |
| Mohammed Sanan |
| Ricky Shabong |
| Sahal Abdul Samad |
Forwards
| Player |
|---|
| Edmund Lalrindika |
| Irfan Yadwad |
| Manvir Singh |
| Rahim Ali |
| Ryan Williams |
| Vikram Partap Singh |
Reserve Players (Standby)
Four players have been named as reserves and may be called up to the squad if required.
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Hrithik Tiwari |
| Defender | Chinglensana Singh Konsham |
| Defender | Roshan Singh Naorem |
| Midfielder | Suresh Singh Wangjam |
Why This Window Matters
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. It is arguably the most demanding set of international friendlies India have faced in their football history.
Brazil — five-time World Cup winners — and Uruguay — two-time World Cup winners — are two of the most decorated nations in the history of the game. Playing them back-to-back in Kolkata, at the iconic Salt Lake Stadium, gives the Blue Tigers a genuine yardstick against which Jamil can measure the progress of his squad.
The Camp: Preparation Timeline
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.
| Milestone | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Preparatory Camp Begins | September 14, 2026 | Bengaluru |
| India vs Panama | September 26, 2026 | Bengaluru |
| Travel to Kolkata | September 28, 2026 | — |
| India vs Brazil | October 3, 2026 | Kolkata |
| India vs Uruguay | October 6, 2026 | Kolkata |
What Khalid Jamil Said
“This is a very important window for us, with three challenging matches against teams that have played at the World Cup,” Jamil said. “Playing Brazil and Uruguay in Kolkata, after facing Panama in Bengaluru, will give the players valuable experience at the international level.“
What Comes Next After This Window
Following that, the focus will shift to the SAFF Championship which will be played in November. However, a scheduling clash looms — India are expected to travel to New Zealand to play two friendlies on November 12 and 15, with those dates clashing with the SAFF Championship 2026. A decision is yet to be made on that matter.
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FAQs
When did Khalid Jamil announce India’s squad?
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.
Where will India play their three friendlies?
India will play Panama at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru on September 26, before moving to the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan — also known as the Salt Lake Stadium — in Kolkata for their fixtures against Brazil on October 3 and Uruguay on October 6.
How is India’s 26-man squad broken down by position?
The 26-member group includes four goalkeepers, eight defenders, eight midfielders, and six forwards. Four additional reserve players have also been named on standby.
Who are the reserve players named for this window?
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.
When does India’s preparation camp begin?
Jamil’s side will begin their preparatory camp on September 14 in Bengaluru, giving the squad nearly two weeks of preparation ahead of the Panama friendly on September 26.
