India’s friendly match against Panama has been set for September 25 due to Bengaluru marathon: Report

India’s international football friendly against Panama here has been advanced by a day from its scheduled September 26 as the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, the venue of the match, will host the Bengaluru Marathon on September 27.

Since the Kanteerava Stadium will serve as the starting and finishing point of the marathon race, it will be difficult to organize India vs Panama football match next day as per earlier scheduleaccording to sources.

The match will now take place on September 25.

“We are now moving the India-Panama match forward by a day. It will be held on September 25,” a Karnataka State Football Association (KSFA) source told PTI.

On 27 August, the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru was selected by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) as the venue for India’s international friendly against 2026 World Cup participants Panama.

The match will mark the Blue Tigers’ first appearance in Bengaluru since their SAFF Championship 2023 campaign, when India won the title on home soil after defeating Kuwait in the final at the same venue.

Currently ranked 44th in the world, Panama will provide a high-quality test for India. The Central American nation featured in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, adding further significance to the game.

It will be India’s first friendly against a World Cup playing nation in a busy international season, they come exactly a week before they face five-time world champions Brazil in Calcutta on October 3. India will also play Uruguay on October 6, also in Kolkata.

Bengaluru had previously witnessed India record a victory over high-ranked opposition when the Blue Tigers won 1-0 against the United Arab Emirates (then ranked 54 places above India) in a FIFA World Cup qualifier in 2001. Twenty-five years later, the city would once again host India against a high-ranked opponent.

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Published on:

04 Sep 2026 11:29 IST