India women to host Russia in Kolkata for two friendlies on October 8 and 11, 2026
India women’s national team will play Russia in two international friendlies at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on October 8 and 11, 2026, during the FIFA Women’s International Match Window. These fixtures will be the Indian side’s first international matches in Kolkata and their first outings since winning the SAFF Women’s Championship in June 2026.
The two matches mark the Blue Tigresses’ debut in Kolkata and their first appearance in West Bengal since the 2016 SAFF Women’s Championship in Siliguri, where India lifted the title. The October window comes after India were crowned SAFF champions for a record-extending sixth time in June 2026, and will offer competitive preparation against a higher-ranked opponent.
These fixtures will be the third and fourth meetings between India and Russia; the teams previously met at the Turkish Women’s Cup in 2021, when India lost 0-8, and at the Pink Ladies Cup 2025 in the UAE, a 0-2 defeat for India. Russia last travelled to India in 1994 to participate in the eight-nation Jayalalitha Cup in Chennai, a tournament in which India were eliminated in the group stage and Russia finished runners-up.
Head coach Crispin Chettri said, “Playing against quality opposition is always valuable for the development of the team. We have already faced Russia at the Pink Ladies Cup in Dubai, where we lost 2-0, so these matches will give us another opportunity to test ourselves against a strong side.”
Chettri also emphasised squad development, saying, “While results are important, we also have to look at these games with a long-term vision. It is important to give opportunities to upcoming players, expose them to high-level opposition and continue developing a squad that can perform at the international level in the future.”
The Blue Tigresses have been training in Kolkata since September 18, and Chettri will finalise and name the squad closer to the matches. “Having Kolkata host these matches will also be a huge opportunity for the players. They will not only get to play against a quality team like Russia, but, hopefully, in front of a good crowd as well,” he added, followed by, “Experiencing the expectations and atmosphere that come with playing in front of fans is also part of their development. These are the habits and experiences we need to build if we want to compete at a higher international level.”
The October window presents 69th-ranked India with the chance to measure themselves against 27th-ranked Russia, offering competitive games on October 8 and 11, 2026 at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata during the FIFA Women’s International Match Window.