The upcoming international window is set to be crucial for the Indian football team. On Monday, head coach Khalid Jamil announced a 26-player squad that will play three major international friendly matches against Panama, Brazil, and Uruguay. The matches against Brazil and Uruguay, in particular, will offer the Indian players a fantastic opportunity to test themselves.
India Football Team Announcement: 26-Man Squad Named for Panama, Brazil, and Uruguay Friendlies
The Indian team will kick off its campaign against Panama in Bengaluru on September 26. Subsequently, the team will travel to Kolkata, where it will face five-time world champions Brazil on October 3 and two-time world champions Uruguay on October 6.
All three teams participated in this year's FIFA World Cup. Consequently, the Indian team faces a major challenge in testing its level of play against sides featuring world-class players. With a squad brimming with young talent, Khalid Jamil's objective will also be to gauge his team's strengths and weaknesses through these upcoming matches.
National camp to begin on September 14
The national team's camp will commence in Bengaluru on September 14. After playing a match against Panama, the Indian team will depart for Kolkata on September 28. Subsequently, the team will face formidable opponents like Brazil and Uruguay. These three matches are crucial for Khalid Jamil, given the significant international assignments ahead for the Indian team. The matches against Brazil and Uruguay will provide the players with an excellent opportunity to showcase their talent on a major stage.
India's 26-member squad
- Goalkeepers: Albino Gomes, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Prabhsukhan Singh Gill, Som Kumar.
- Defenders: Abhishek Singh Tekcham, Akash Mishra, Anwar Ali, Bijoy Varghese, Hingthanmawia Ralte, Jay Gupta, Pramveer, Ricky Meetei Haobam.
- Midfielders: Anirudh Thapa, Ashique Kuruniyan, Farukh Choudhary, Lalengmawia Ralte, Mcarton Nickson, Mohammed Sanan, Ricky Shabong, Sahal Abdul Samad.
- Forwards: Edmund Lalrindika, Irfan Yadwad, Manvir Singh, Rahim Ali, Ryan Williams, Vikram Pratap Singh.
Indian Football Team Schedule
- 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
