New Delhi: Indian football is set for a packed international calendar this autumn, with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) announcing a 13-match programme involving different Indian national teams between September 25 and October 11. The matches will be staged across Bengaluru, Goa and Kolkata, with teams from seven countries set to visit India. The programme, however, remains subject to government clearance for the teams’ travel. The senior men’s team will headline the schedule with three high-profile fixtures against teams that featured in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. India will face Panama in Bengaluru on September 25 before taking on Brazil on October 3 and Uruguay on October 6 in Kolkata.
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The fixtures are expected to provide the Indian side with valuable exposure against top-level international opposition. AIFF Director of Football (National Teams) Subrata Paul described the programme as a significant milestone, particularly as India will host 13 international matches during a single FIFA window. The India senior women’s team will also feature in the calendar, facing Russia twice in Kolkata on October 8 and 11. The encounters will offer the women’s side an opportunity to test themselves against strong opposition. India’s U-15 men’s team has been handed an especially busy schedule. The youngsters will play Iran U-15 three times in Bengaluru on September 28, 29 and 30, followed by three matches against Uzbekistan U-15 on October 8, 9 and 10.
Meanwhile, the India U-17 women’s team will meet the Philippines U-17 side in Goa on September 26 and 29. AIFF Deputy Secretary General M. Satyanarayan stressed the importance of making maximum use of FIFA windows to provide international exposure to teams at different stages of development. The extensive schedule is expected to give Indian players across age groups valuable competitive experience while allowing the national teams to assess their progress against varied international opposition.
