Bengaluru's Kanteerava Stadium to Host India vs Panama Football Friendly on September 26

The All India Football Federation has announced that Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru will host the Indian men's football team for an international friendly against Panama on September 26.

The upcoming match will mark the national team's first appearance in Bengaluru since their victorious SAFF Championship 2023 campaign, where India lifted the trophy on home soil after defeating Kuwait in the final at the same venue.

Panama, currently ranked 44th in the FIFA world rankings, will visit the city as part of an extensive international schedule. The Central American side recently featured in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the Americas, where they exited in the group stage following defeats against Ghana, Croatia, and England. Panama had previously participated in the 2018 World Cup.

The Bengaluru fixture is the opening match in an unprecedented series of home friendlies scheduled during the upcoming FIFA international window, which runs from September 21 to October 6. Under FIFA guidelines, a national team can play up to four matches during this window.

Following the game at Sree Kanteerava Stadium, India will travel to Kolkata to face two of world football's historic heavyweights at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan. The Blue Tigers will first take on five-time World Cup champions Brazil on October 3.

Three days later, on October 6, India will host two-time World Cup champions Uruguay at the same Kolkata venue. Uruguay, currently ranked 20th in the world and managed by former Mumbai City FC player Diego Forlan, will complete a run of three consecutive matches for India against World Cup-playing nations.

In a statement released on Thursday, the AIFF highlighted that the arrival of Panama, Brazil, and Uruguay creates a significant international window for Indian football supporters.

Following the conclusion of their home series in Bengaluru and Kolkata, the Indian men's team is scheduled to travel for away international friendlies against New Zealand on November 12 and November 15.