Before Brazil clash, India to play Panama in a friendly on September 26

India will play Panama on September 26 as part of its build-up to the Brazil friendly. The game offers Khalid Jamil's side rare exposure against a top-ranked side as AIFF continues their trend of bringing in big matches.India will be playing Brazil in Kolkata on October 3 (Courtesy: PTI)Ahead of their much-anticipated friendly against Brazil, India will take on Panama on September 26. The upcoming fixture will mark the first time India and Panama face each other, with Panama becoming only the ninth CONCACAF opponent the Blue Tigers have encountered. Ranked 44th in the world, the Central American side will offer India another valuable test against a team with World Cup experience.Known as Los Canaleros, Panama competed at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The September clash is currently set to be the first of four matches India will play against teams that featured at this summer's World Cup, followed by a meeting with Brazil on October 3 and two games against New Zealand on November 12 and 15. (Credit: AIFF X) AIFF deputy general M Satyanarayan said that Panama will be a good test for Khalid Jamil and his side and give the players the right exposure."Playing against Panama will be a tough battle ahead of the Brazil game. Panama are a top-50 team in the world, and it will be a good test for Khalid Jamil's boys. We are looking forward to our players getting the right exposure, and we normally don't get to play such World Cup teams. So it's a good FIFA window for us, where we are playing such tough teams," said AIFF deputy general M Satyanarayan. India's friendly against Panama was arranged after the AIFF pulled the Blue Tigers out of the FIFA ASEAN Cup because of a scheduling conflict with the high-profile clash against Brazil.The tournament is scheduled to begin on September 24, with the final set for October 3—the same day India are due to face Brazil at Kolkata's iconic Salt Lake Stadium. Had India progressed all the way to the final, they would have faced an unavoidable clash between the two fixtures. India are also in talks with Cabo Verde for a friendly on October 6, right after the Brazil tie.- EndsPublished On: Aug 25, 2026 20:52 IST