India to host Panama, Brazil and Uruguay and visit New Zealand in 2026 friendly windows
The Indian men's national football team will face Panama, Brazil, Uruguay and New Zealand in a series of international friendlies across September, October and November 2026, the federation confirmed. Home fixtures are scheduled in Bengaluru and Kolkata, while India will travel to Auckland for two matches in November.
The fixtures form part of a packed international calendar described by the source as one of India's most exciting recent stretches, offering Khalid Jamil's squad opportunities to test themselves against multiple FIFA World Cup 2026 nations and gain exposure and confidence. The matches bring a mix of home and away assignments against established international sides.
Panama are due to be the first World Cup 2026 nation to visit, with the match set to kick off on 26th September 2026 at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru. The friendly against Panama is intended as a chance for Khalid Jamil's squad to assess strengths and weaknesses ahead of the high-profile Brazil fixture.
Brazil will play India on 3rd October 2026 at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium) in Kolkata, after a CBF delegation inspected the stadium’s environment, infrastructure, training facilities, accommodation and other arrangements ahead of the fixture. The source noted Brazil are ranked fifth in the FIFA World ranking and that facing them will allow India to encounter the Selecao’s footballing culture, speed, technical quality and intensity.
Following the Brazil game, India will meet Uruguay on 6th October 2026 at the VYBK Stadium in Kolkata. The report states Uruguay had a decent FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign and are now led by former Mumbai City FC player Diego Forlan, and that they are ready to travel to India with an aim to rebuild for the upcoming World Cup.
India will then travel to New Zealand for two matches in November, with the first game at Go Media Stadium in Auckland on 12th November 2026 and the second at One New Zealand Stadium on 15th November. Those fixtures complete the scheduled international window outlined in the source.
India’s international programme opens with the Panama friendly on 26th September 2026 at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru, the first confirmed match in the sequence of fixtures against FIFA World Cup 2026 nations.