Football fans in India are preparing for an exciting international friendly between the Indian men’s national football team and Panama. The match will bring the Blue Tigers face-to-face with a team that participated in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It will also give Indian players an opportunity to gain valuable international experience against a strong opponent.
India, under head coach Khalid Jamil, will look to make the most of home advantage in Bengaluru. Panama, managed by Thomas Christiansen, will arrive with a squad featuring experienced international players and emerging talents.
India vs Panama Match 2026: Date, Time and Venue
Here are the important details of the upcoming international friendly:
| Match Information | Details |
| Match | India vs Panama |
| Competition | International Friendly |
| Match Date | 25 September 2026 |
| Original Date | 26 September 2026 |
| Venue | Sree Kanteerava Stadium |
| City | Bengaluru, India |
| India Head Coach | Khalid Jamil |
| Panama Head Coach | Thomas Christiansen |
The match was originally scheduled for September 26 but was moved to September 25. The venue remains the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru.
This fixture is part of India’s September–October international friendly schedule, which also includes matches against Brazil and Uruguay.
India Football Team Squad for the Panama Match
India head coach Khalid Jamil announced a 26-member squad for the international friendlies against Panama, Brazil and Uruguay.
Goalkeepers
- Albino Gomes
- Gurpreet Singh Sandhu
- Prabhsukhan Singh Gill
- Som Kumar
Defenders
- Abhishek Singh Tekcham
- Akash Mishra
- Anwar Ali
- Bijoy Varghese
- Hmingthanmawia Ralte
- Jay Gupta
- Pramveer
- Ricky Meetei Haobam
Midfielders
- Anirudh Thapa
- Ashique Kuruniyan
- Farukh Choudhary
- Lalengmawia Ralte
- Macarton Nickson
- Mohammed Sanan
- Ricky Shabong
- Sahal Abdul Samad
Forwards
- Edmund Lalrindika
- Irfan Yadwad
- Manvir Singh
- Rahim Ali
- Ryan Williams
- Vikram Partap Singh
Head Coach: Khalid Jamil
These are the players named in the announced squad. The final starting eleven and substitutes for the match may differ.
Panama Football Team Squad for the India Match
Panama head coach Thomas Christiansen announced a 27-member squad for the team’s Asian tour.
Goalkeepers
- Orlando Mosquera
- Marcos De León
- Eddie Roberts
Defenders
- César Blackman
- Jorge Gutiérrez
- Jair Modelo
- Amir Murillo
- Omar Valencia
- Martín Krug
- Andrés Andrade
- José Córdoba
- Jiovany Ramos
- Joseph Jones
- Eduardo Anderson
Midfielders
- Carlos Harvey
- Adalberto Carrasquilla
- Cristian Martínez
- José Luis Rodríguez
- Víctor Griffith
- Daivis Murillo
- Azarías Londoño
- Rafael Mosquera
- Giovany Herbert
Forwards
- José Fajardo
- Josué Vergara
- Mijahir Jiménez
- Tomás Rodríguez
Head Coach: Thomas Christiansen
Panama’s squad combines World Cup experience with new faces. Six players received their first senior national-team call-ups for this tour.
Key Indian Players and Their Memorable Football Moments
1. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu is one of India’s experienced goalkeepers. His career includes playing in Europe with Norwegian club Stabæk, making him a notable Indian footballer to have experienced European club football.
His international experience and goalkeeping performances make him an important name in India’s squad.
2. Anwar Ali
Anwar Ali is an Indian defender known for his role in the national team’s defensive setup. His return to the senior international stage and performances in domestic competitions have made him a player to watch.
Against Panama, his defensive positioning and ability to deal with attacking pressure could be important.
3. Anirudh Thapa
Anirudh Thapa is an experienced Indian midfielder who has represented the national team in major international competitions.
His ability to distribute the ball and help connect the defence with the attack makes him a significant player in India’s midfield.
4. Sahal Abdul Samad
Sahal Abdul Samad is known for his technical ability, close control and creativity in midfield. His performances for India and in domestic club football have established him as an attacking midfield option.
His movement and passing could help India create opportunities against Panama.
5. Manvir Singh
Manvir Singh is an Indian forward who has contributed to the national team with important attacking performances.
His physical presence, movement and ability to support attacking plays could be valuable in the match against Panama.
6. Ryan Williams
Ryan Williams is part of India’s attacking group for the international window. His inclusion gives the team another option in the forward line as India prepare to face World Cup-level opposition.
His performance will be one of the aspects Indian supporters may follow closely.
Key Panama Players and Their Memorable Football Moments
1. Amir Murillo
Amir Murillo is an experienced Panama defender who has played club football in Europe. His career has included spells with Anderlecht and Marseille before his move to Beşiktaş.
His experience at club and international level makes him one of the notable names in Panama’s defensive unit.
2. Adalberto Carrasquilla
Adalberto Carrasquilla is a technically gifted Panama midfielder known for his ball control, passing and ability to influence play.
He has been an important figure in Panama’s international football setup, including the team’s appearances in major CONCACAF competitions.
3. José Fajardo
José Fajardo is a Panama forward with international experience. His attacking contributions have made him one of the players Panama can look to when trying to create scoring opportunities.
India’s defenders will need to remain organised when Panama’s forwards move into dangerous positions.
4. César Blackman
César Blackman is a Panama defender who has played club football in Europe, including with Slovan Bratislava.
His experience in competitive club football adds depth to Panama’s defensive options.
5. José Córdoba
José Córdoba is a Panama centre-back who has played in European football, including with Norwich City.
His defensive experience and physical presence make him a player to watch in Panama’s back line.
6. Tomás Rodríguez
Tomás Rodríguez is an attacking player included in Panama’s squad. He has represented his country internationally and has experience playing club football outside Panama.
His attacking movement could provide Panama with another option in the final third.
Why Is India vs Panama an Important Match?
The match is significant for several reasons:
- International experience: India will face an opponent that participated in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
- Squad assessment: The fixture gives coach Khalid Jamil an opportunity to assess players against strong international opposition.
- Tactical development: India can test its defensive organisation, midfield combinations and attacking approach.
- Home support: Playing in Bengaluru gives the Blue Tigers an opportunity to perform in front of Indian supporters.
- Preparation for future fixtures: The match comes before India’s scheduled friendlies against Brazil and Uruguay.
India vs Panama: What Can Fans Expect?
India will aim to make effective use of possession, maintain defensive organisation and create opportunities through coordinated attacking movements.
Panama will bring international experience and players accustomed to competing in overseas leagues. Their squad includes defenders and midfielders who have played in Europe, the Americas and other competitive football environments.
The match could therefore provide an interesting test of India’s ability to manage pressure, defend against organised attacks and convert scoring chances.
However, the announced squads do not confirm which players will start or how either coach will arrange the team tactically. Those details will become clearer when the official match line-ups are released.
Conclusion
The India vs Panama international friendly is scheduled for September 25, 2026, at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru, following a change from its original date of September 26.
India’s 26-member squad includes experienced players such as Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Anirudh Thapa, Sahal Abdul Samad and Manvir Singh.
Panama’s squad features international names including Amir Murillo, Adalberto Carrasquilla, José Fajardo and José Córdoba.
With both teams bringing different experiences and playing backgrounds, the fixture offers an opportunity for India to test itself against World Cup opposition.
Football supporters can look forward to an engaging international contest as the Blue Tigers begin a challenging series of friendlies.
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