India to host football friendlies against Brazil, Uruguay, and Panama

India is preparing to host high-profile international football friendlies against Panama, Brazil, and Uruguay during the September-October FIFA international window. The matches are scheduled to take place at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru and the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata.

Midfielder Anirudh Thapa, returning to the national squad after a two-year absence, described the matches as a ‘once-in-a-lifetime opportunity’ to compete against world champions on home soil. Thapa emphasized the need for the team to remain focused, noting that despite the prestige of the opponents, the matches must be approached as ‘11 against 11’ on the pitch.

The selection of Bengaluru and Kolkata as venues has sparked debate regarding the exclusion of Northeast India. Despite being a primary talent pool for the national team, the region lacks representation in these marquee fixtures. Stakeholders noted that venue selection by the All India Football Federation is often driven by stadium capacity and pitch standards required for international competition.