The Blue Tigresses are back in action. The India senior women’s football team are set to face Russia in two international friendlies in October 2026, adding further fixtures to what has already been a busy and eventful year for Indian women’s football. The preparatory camp for the two matches will begin in Kolkata on September 16, giving head coach Amelia Valverde and her squad nearly three weeks of preparation before their first fixture.
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The Fixtures: October 8 & 11
India’s next confirmed fixtures are against Russia on October 8 and October 11, 2026, with the venue yet to be officially announced. The two-match series gives Crispin Chettri back-to-back opportunities to assess his squad in a competitive environment ahead of the next cycle of international football.
Fixtures: At a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Team | India Senior Women’s Football Team |
| Opponent | Russia |
| Match Type | International Friendly |
| Match 1 Date | October 8, 2026 |
| Match 2 Date | October 11, 2026 |
| Camp Start Date | September 16, 2026 |
| Camp Location | Kolkata |
| Head Coach | Crispin Chettri |
| FIFA Ranking (India) | 74 |
| Nickname | Blue Tigresses |
| Governing Body | All India Football Federation (AIFF) |
Why These Friendlies Matter
The Blue Tigresses have already featured in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup, the FIFA Women’s Series in Kenya and the SAFF Women’s Championship this year. The upcoming friendlies will therefore offer them another chance to build momentum and gain international experience.
The Russia friendlies arrive at an important moment in the Blue Tigresses’ calendar — a chance to close out the year with positive results and give fringe players competitive exposure before the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027 qualification cycle intensifies.
India’s 2026 International Calendar: Year in Review
By the time the Russia friendlies arrive, the Blue Tigresses will have had a packed year of international football.
| Tournament | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|
| AFC Women’s Asian Cup | Australia | Group Stage Exit |
| FIFA Women’s Series | Kenya | Participated |
| SAFF Women’s Championship | Goa, India | Champions |
| Russia Friendlies (Match 1) | TBC | October 8, 2026 |
| Russia Friendlies (Match 2) | TBC | October 11, 2026 |
The SAFF Women’s Championship Triumph
India claimed their sixth SAFF Women’s Championship title this year. Playing on home soil in Goa, the Blue Tigresses ended a seven-year wait for the title by beating Bangladesh 3-1 in the final, capping an impressive unbeaten campaign.
The Blue Tigresses opened their tournament with an emphatic 11-0 win over Maldives before defeating defending champions Bangladesh 3-0 to top Group B. The knockout stage was tougher, but the Blue Tigresses edged Bhutan 1-0 in the semi-final through a Sanfida Nongrum strike.
That championship triumph gives the squad significant confidence heading into the Russia window, and Crispin will be eager to build on the momentum of a tournament that reminded everyone of what Indian women’s football is capable of.
The AFC Women’s Asian Cup: A Tough Learning Curve
They featured in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 in Australia. They lost all three group matches against Japan, Chinese Taipei and Vietnam and failed to progress.
The heaviest defeat came against Japan, who won 11-0. However, Manisha Kalyan produced a memorable moment by scoring a stunning long-range free-kick against Chinese Taipei — a moment that captured the spirit of a team that refused to give up even in the face of a difficult group.
Building Toward FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027
Every fixture in this cycle carries added weight — the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027 represents a landmark ambition for Indian women’s football. With qualification pathways yet to be mapped out, these Russia friendlies form part of a longer preparation story that Valverde is carefully building.
With the Russia friendlies now confirmed, the Blue Tigresses will look to build on their SAFF triumph and end 2026 on a positive note.
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FAQs
When will India Women play Russia in October 2026?
India’s next confirmed fixtures are against Russia on October 8 and October 11, 2026. The venue for both matches has not yet been officially announced.
Where does India Women’s team camp begin ahead of the Russia friendlies?
The Indian women’s team camp will begin in Kolkata on September 16, 2026, giving the squad nearly three weeks of preparation under head coach Amelia Valverde before the first fixture.
Who is the head coach of the India senior women’s football team?
The All India Football Federation appointed Crispin Chettri to replace Amelia Valverde in March.
What has India Women’s team achieved in 2026 so far?
The Blue Tigresses have already featured in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia, the FIFA Women’s Series in Kenya, and the SAFF Women’s Championship in Goa — where they claimed their sixth SAFF Women’s Championship title, beating Bangladesh 3-1 in the final.
How important are these Russia friendlies for Indian women’s football?
The Russia friendlies offer India another chance to build momentum and gain international experience ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027 qualification cycle. They also give Valverde the opportunity to assess her full squad against a mid-table European nation in a competitive environment.
