India Unveils Preliminary Squad for Unity Cup 2026
Announcement of Preliminary Squad
On Thursday, Khalid Jamil, the head coach of the Indian senior men's national football team, revealed a 28-member preliminary squad for the upcoming Unity Cup 2026. The Blue Tigers are scheduled to gather in Bengaluru for a short training camp following the conclusion of the Indian Super League 2025-26, before departing for London on May 24.
Final Squad Selection Process
During this brief camp, Jamil will evaluate the players before finalizing the 23-member squad that will head to London for the tournament.
Jamil Discusses Unity Cup Preparations
"The Unity Cup presents an excellent chance for us to gear up for official competitions like the SAFF Championship later this year. We must make the most of every FIFA International Window to prepare for the upcoming tournaments," Jamil stated.
"The selection of these 28 players is based on their performances in the current ISL season. We will have a few days to assess their capabilities before finalizing the squad," he added.
Challenging Matches Await in London
India, currently ranked 136th by FIFA, is set to face Jamaica, ranked 71st, in the second semi-final on May 27 at midnight (May 28 IST). Meanwhile, Nigeria (ranked 26th) will compete against Zimbabwe (ranked 130th) in the first semi-final at the same time. The two teams that lose will meet for the third-place playoff on June 30.
Jamil believes that competing against stronger teams will enhance the players' confidence. "Facing high-level opponents will provide valuable experience and boost our performance. We should engage in more matches of this caliber," he remarked.
India's 28-Member Preliminary Squad
The preliminary squad for Unity Cup 2026 includes the following players:
Goalkeepers: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Vishal Kaith, Hrithik Tiwari, Albino Gomes.
Defenders: Rahul Bheke, Nikhil Poojary, Roshan Singh Naorem, Abhishek Singh Tekcham, Anwar Ali, Sandesh Jhingan, Akash Mishra, Bijoy Varghese, Pramveer.
Midfielders: Ashique Kuruniyan, Lalengmawia Ralte, Sahal Abdul Samad, Anirudh Thapa, Jeakson Singh Thounaojam, Noufal PN, Ricky Shabong.
Forwards: Ryan Williams, Manvir Singh, Liston Colaco, Suhail Ahmad Bhat, Edmund Lalrindika, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Rahim Ali, Farukh Choudhary.
Unity Cup 2026 Match Schedule
Unity Cup 2026 Schedule:
- 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.