Bengaluru To Host India-Panama International Friendly On September 26

The Indian senior men's national football team will return to Bengaluru for an international friendly against Panama on September 26, with the match set to be played at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium during the FIFA Men's International Match Window.

The fixture will mark India's first appearance in Bengaluru since the 2023 SAFF Championship, when the Blue Tigers clinched the title on home soil by defeating Kuwait in the final at the same venue. The tournament witnessed strong support from Bengaluru's football fans, with the stadium recording impressive attendance throughout India's campaign.

The upcoming fixture is expected to provide India with a demanding test. Panama, ranked 44th in the world, featured at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, adding significance to the encounter. The match will be India's first friendly against a nation that participated in the World Cup during this international period.

The Panama game will also form part of a challenging schedule for the Blue Tigers. India will face five-time world champions Brazil in Kolkata on October 3, exactly one week after the Bengaluru encounter. The back-to-back fixtures will give the Indian side an opportunity to test itself against higher-ranked international opposition.

Bengaluru also has a notable history of producing memorable results for Indian football. In the 2001 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, India recorded a 1-0 victory over the United Arab Emirates, who were ranked 54 places higher than India at the time. Twenty-five years later, the city will once again welcome the national team for a high-profile international fixture.

NA Haris, Vice President of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and President of the Karnataka State Football Association, said it was a matter of pride for Bengaluru and Karnataka's football community to welcome the national team back.

Haris said the city's relationship with Indian football was strengthened by the passionate support during the 2023 SAFF Championship and expressed confidence that Bengaluru would create another memorable atmosphere when India takes on Panama.

The September 26 encounter is expected to bring football fans across Karnataka together as the Blue Tigers begin preparations for a demanding international stretch.