The Indian football team’s upcoming international friendly against Panama has been preponed by a day and will now be played on September 25 instead of September 26, with Bengaluru’s Shree Kanteerava Stadium set to host the fixture.

The change in schedule is understood to be linked to a marathon scheduled to take place at the Shree Kanteerava Stadium on September 27. With the venue required for the sporting event, preparations and logistical arrangements have prompted the football fixture to be brought forward by a day.

A Karnataka State Football Association (KSFA) official has confirmed MyKhel that the India-Panama match will be played a day earlier than originally planned.

The Bengaluru marathon will take place at the Kanteerava Stadium and, as per the KSFA official, a match just a day before that would be a logistical nightmare.

The fixture is part of India’s upcoming international programme as the national team looks to make the most of the FIFA international window. Playing Panama will provide India with an opportunity to test themselves against opposition from the CONCACAF region and gain valuable international experience.

The match in Bengaluru will also be an important occasion for Indian football supporters, with the Shree Kanteerava Stadium having hosted several significant fixtures involving the national team over the years. The exact kick-off time and other match-day details are expected to be confirmed soon.

Khalid Jamil’s men will play two more high-profile friendly matches in this international window, as they are set to take on Brazil (Oct 3) and Uruguay (Oct 6) as well. Both of the matches against the South American giants will be played at the Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata.

The head coach has already picked his 26-member squad for the three matches. This will be the first time for the Indian men’s football team where they will face such high-end opponents serially in international friendlies.