The Blue Tigers departed from Bengaluru on Sunday, May 24, after assembling for a short training camp following the conclusion of the Indian Super League 2025–26 season. Head coach Khalid Jamil travelled with a 17-member contingent after Mohun Bagan Super Giant recalled their players from the national camp shortly before departure.

Goalkeeper Hrithik Tiwari is expected to join the squad separately and arrive in London on Monday, completing India’s 18-member squad for the tournament.

India, currently ranked 136th in the FIFA rankings, will take on Jamaica national football team in the second semi-final of the Unity Cup on May 27 (May 28 IST). The other semi-final will see Nigeria national football team face Zimbabwe national football team a day earlier.

All fixtures will be played at The Valley, the home stadium of Charlton Athletic FC. The tournament will conclude on May 30 with both the final and third-place playoff scheduled for the same day.

India’s squad features a blend of experience and emerging talent, led by senior players such as Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Sandesh Jhingan, and Lallianzuala Chhangte, alongside promising names including Noufal PN, Ricky Shabong, and Pramveer.

The Unity Cup provides India with an important opportunity to test themselves against higher-ranked international opposition, with Jamaica ranked 71st in the world and Nigeria sitting 26th in the FIFA rankings.

India Squad for Unity Cup 2026

Goalkeepers: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Hrithik Tiwari, Albino Gomes

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

Midfielders: Jeakson Singh Thounaojam, Noufal PN, Ricky Shabong

Forwards: Ryan Williams, Edmund Lalrindika, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Rahim Ali, Farukh Choudhary

Unity Cup 2026 Schedule

Semi-final One
May 26 — Nigeria vs Zimbabwe

Semi-final Two
May 27 — Jamaica vs India

Final and Third-Place Play-off
May 30

Venue: The Valley, London
Streaming: FanCode

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India’s last appearance in Kochi dates back to March 2016, when they faced Turkmenistan. Since then, the city has eagerly awaited the return of international football, and this fixture promises a far more vibrant atmosphere, with strong support expected in the stands.

Beyond just a return, the match carries historical significance. India are yet to register a victory in Kochi despite multiple appearances over the decades, including high-profile encounters during the Nehru Cup era against some of the world’s top nations. This fixture presents an opportunity for Khalid Jamil’s side to break that long-standing record and script a memorable chapter.

Although India are no longer in contention for qualification, the focus within the camp remains clear—end the campaign on a positive note. The team has spent the past week preparing in Kochi, working on cohesion and sharpening combinations, particularly in attack where goals have been hard to come by in the qualifiers.

The attacking unit, featuring players like Edmund Lalrindika, Rahim Ali, Manvir Singh, Farukh Choudhary, and Ryan Williams, will look to find the right balance and deliver in front of the home crowd. With renewed energy and support from the stands, India will aim to translate their preparation into performance.

Hong Kong, meanwhile, arrive with a fresh setup under new head coach Roberto Losada. With limited time to settle into a new system, they remain an unpredictable opponent. However, India’s approach will be centred on their own game, focusing on discipline, structure, and taking control of key moments.

The occasion also brings excitement among the players, with Kochi widely regarded as one of the true homes of football in India. The return to such a venue adds emotional weight to the contest, as the Blue Tigers look to reward the fans with a strong performance.

Tuesday’s clash is more than just a qualifier—it is an opportunity to create history, reconnect with passionate supporters, and build momentum for the future. A win would not only mark India’s first-ever victory in Kochi but also provide a fitting end to their campaign.

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In the FIFA U-17 World Cup, which India hosted, Dheeraj was one of the standout performers for the country, and he looked solid between the sticks. His acts, denying the marauding runs, and tremendous shots of the opponents, who were far better than the hosts, were simply amazing to watch, and enjoy. His performance caught the eyes of many international scouts, and he had offers from many European, and North American team, but the player opted to join Indian Arrows to participate in the I-League.

His contract with the club was until the end of 2017, and the player will leave the country once he gets his European visa. As part of European expedition, the player is training hard under David James, Kerala Blasters coach. Dheeraj Singh was spotted playing for Kerala Blasters reserves in a friendly game against Kerala Blasters B team.He reportedly has offers from Westham United, Motherwell, and few other top-flight clubs, to attend the trials.

However, he has opted to attend the trials of Motherwell FC, playing the Scottish first tier, according to reports from European medias. It’s also understood that the duration of the trial will be 2 weeks.

17-year-old Indian goalkeeper, Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem will attend a 2 week trial for #Motherwell starting in February #Ileague #isl #indianarrows

— ITK Yorkie (@JD_agent) 26 January 2018

Indian Football faithful have huge expectations over the future of Dheeraj Singh, and if he manages to impress the European scouts, there is a high chance for this young talent to feature in the renowned English Premier League, or any other renowned European league in the future.

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NEW DELHI:  As one gear up for India’s International Friendly against Cambodia in Phnom Penh, you cannot keep your eyes off the history book. A trip down the memory lane, quite blatantly points out that India last won an away International Friendly way back in June 2006 – a solitary goal victory against Pakistan, a side which was Captained by present Team Manager Shanmugam Venkatesh.

For the normal fan, there’s no escaping the harsh reality, the stays natural. But the turf at Phnom Penh, National Coach Stephen Constantine informs “is an artificial one” It certainly is a concern but doesn’t trouble the Coach much.

“We will be playing on an artificial turf. We would have preferred to play on grass. But we need to adjust. It is a very important match for us ahead of the crucial match against Myanmar in the AFC Cup Qualifiers. I thank AIFF for arranging the same,” he said.

“There are 4-5 players who are carrying slight niggles so I haven’t yet decided on the starting XI. Let me see what suits us best,” the Coach stated. “The weather conditions in Phnom Penh are quite similar to that in Yangon and it will be a good test for us.”

For the record, Goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu will be leading the side on Wednesday (March 22, 2017), his second consecutive match as the National Team Captain, after India’s 4-1 mauling of Puerto Rico in last September.

The squad of 24 headed to Phnom Penh after training in Mumbai and though the boys started assembling from March 13^th onwards, it was not before March 15^th that the entire squad assembled for those “rigorous training sessions.”

“You need International games to develop as a Team and the AIFF has confirmed International friendlies until October which is very positive. The more you play the more Team chemistry you develop and the more the Players gel,” Constantine maintained.

“There is a very healthy competition to get into the starting XI. It is a huge honour to get selected for India and the Players understand that. The philosophy in the team stays that there are no guarantees for anyone and you need to work hard to stay in the squad and work harder to get into the Starting XI.”

The harsh reality of history hits you hard on your face. Can India rescript it?

The kick-off on March 22 (Wednesday) is at IST 5 pm.

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The 20 member list follows below:-

Goalkeepers: Aditi Chauhan, Roshini Devi, Panthoi Chanu

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