India's National Football Team Set for Friendly Matches in Tajikistan

The Indian men's national football team is set to play two friendly matches against Tajikistan in June, following their participation in the Unity Cup 2026 in London. With a strong squad and a recent bronze medal win at the CAFA Nations Cup, the team is looking to build on their success. The matches will take place at Hisor Central Stadium, and fans can look forward to an exciting schedule ahead. Read on for more details about the squad and match timings.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 27, 2026, 16:49 IST

India's Upcoming International Fixtures

The Indian men's national football team is scheduled to compete in two friendly matches against Tajikistan on June 5 and June 9, taking place in Hisor, Tajikistan, during the FIFA International Match Window.

Currently, the Blue Tigers are in London for the Unity Cup 2026, where they will face Jamaica in the semi-finals on May 27. Following this, they may play against Nigeria or Zimbabwe in either the final or third-place match on May 30, as per the All India Football Federation (AIFF). The team will depart for Tajikistan from London on May 31.

Both fixtures are set to occur at Hisor Central Stadium, kicking off at 20:30 IST. Notably, just eight months prior, the Blue Tigers secured a bronze medal at the CAFA Nations Cup held at the same venue, defeating Tajikistan 2-1 in their debut appearance in the Central Asian tournament, which was also Khalid Jamil's first match as head coach.

India's June FIFA Match Window Schedule

The schedule for India's matches during the FIFA Men's International Match Window in June is as follows:

20:30 IST, June 5: Tajikistan vs India

20:30 IST, June 9: Tajikistan vs India

Venue: Hisor Central Stadium, Hisor, Tajikistan.

Unity Cup 2026 Squad and Schedule

In preparation for the Unity Cup 2026, four additional players have been added to the Indian men's national team roster. Midfielder Macarton Nickson and defender Nikhil Barla joined the squad on Tuesday, while forwards Mohammed Sanan and Vikram Partap Singh are expected to arrive on Wednesday morning.

The semi-final match against Jamaica is scheduled to start at 19:30 BST (00:00 IST on Thursday). Mohun Bagan SG had to recall their players from the national camp in Bengaluru shortly before their flight to the UK, resulting in India traveling with only 17 players on Sunday. Goalkeeper Hrithik Tiwari joined the team on Monday. The AIFF expedited visa processing for the new players to ensure their availability for the Unity Cup's opening match.

India's Final Squad for Unity Cup 2026

The final squad for the Unity Cup 2026 includes:

Goalkeepers: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Hrithik Tiwari, Albino Gomes

Defenders: Rahul Bheke, Nikhil Barla, Nikhil Poojary, Roshan Singh Naorem, Sandesh Jhingan, Akash Mishra, Bijoy Varghese, Pramveer

Midfielders: Jeakson Singh Thounaojam, Macarton Nickson, Noufal PN, Ricky Shabong

Forwards: Ryan Williams, Edmund Lalrindika, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Mohammed Sanan, Rahim Ali, Farukh Choudhary, Vikram Partap Singh

The coaching staff includes Head Coach Khalid Jamil, Assistant Coach Mahesh Gawali, Goalkeeping Coach Feroz Sheriff, and Strength & Conditioning Coach Manuel Dsouza.

Unity Cup 2026 Schedule

The schedule for the Unity Cup 2026 is as follows:

Semi-final One: Tuesday, May 26, 19:30 BST (00:00 IST, May 27): Nigeria vs Zimbabwe

Semi-Final Two: Wednesday, May 27, 19:30 BST (00:00 IST, May 28): Jamaica vs India

Final and Third-place Play-off: Saturday, May 30, Venue: The Valley, London.