India Vs Panama, International Friendly 2026: Valiant Blue Tigers Stand Tall Against World Cuppers To Earn Gritty Draw
The Indian football team produced a spirited display at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru, holding a higher-ranked Panama side to a hard-fought 1-1 draw in their international friendly. Ranked 138th in the world, the Blue Tigers stunned their 44th-ranked opponents when Ryan Williams broke the deadlock in the 41st minute, latching onto a brilliant long ball from Akash Mishra to slot past the goalkeeper. Panama, who featured in the 2026 FIFA World Cup earlier, increased the pressure after the interval and found an equalizer in the 68th minute through Omar Valencia’s powerful long-range strike. Despite late pressure from the visitors and a few missed chances by India to snatch a winner, Khalid Jamil’s side stood firm defensively to secure an encouraging result ahead of upcoming marquee friendlies against Brazil and Uruguay.
Players from India and Panama react with exhaustion after the final whistle of their FIFA international friendly football match, which ended in a 1-1 draw, in Bengaluru, Karnataka, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. | Photo: PTI/Shailendra Bhojak
India defender Abhishek Singh Tekcham (No. 2) leaps over a sliding tackle from a Panama player while Panama defender Azarías Londoño (No. 9) watches on during a FIFA international friendly match, in Bengaluru, Karnataka, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. | Photo: PTI/Shailendra Bhojak
India forward Manvir Singh, 9, leaps to control the ball while Panama midfielder Edward Cedeño, 25, closes in during a FIFA international friendly match, in Bengaluru, Karnataka, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. | Photo: PTI/Shailendra Bhojak
Panama forward Kahiser Lenis (No. 19) celebrates a goal with teammates and coaching staff during the FIFA international friendly match against India, in Bengaluru, Karnataka, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. | Photo: PTI/Shailendra Bhojak
Indian midfielder Brandon Fernandes (10) dribbles past Panama's Giovany Aymar Herbert Forcheney (20) as captain César Blackman (2) and Victor Alfredo Griffith Mullins (5) close in during a FIFA International Friendly 2026 football match, in Bengaluru, Karnataka, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. | Photo: PTI/Shailendra Bhojak
India's Manvir Singh, left, dribbles as Panama's Joseph Edward Jones Cordoba defends during an international friendly soccer match between India and Panama in Bengaluru, India, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. | Photo: AP
India's Ryan Williams, right, shoots at goal as Panama's Roderick Miller defends during an international friendly soccer match between India and Panama in Bengaluru, India, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. | Photo: AP
India's Ashique Kuruniyan, right, dribbles as Panama's César Blackman (2) and Eduardo Antonio Anderson Gómez (24) defend during an international friendly soccer match between India and Panama in Bengaluru, India, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. | Photo: AP
Panama's Alberto Quintero, right, fights for a ball during an international friendly soccer match between India and Panama in Bengaluru, India, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. | Photo: AP
India's Ryan Williams, right, fights for a ball with Panama's Roderick Miller, left, during an international friendly soccer match between India and Panama in Bengaluru, India, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. | Photo: AP
Goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (1) and defender Akash Mishra (6) lead the Indian national football team onto the pitch prior to their FIFA International Friendly 2026 match against Panama, in Bengaluru, Karnataka, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. | Photo: PTI/Shailendra Bhojak
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