India will take on Panama in a FIFA international friendly in Bengaluru on Friday, with head coach Khalid Jamil viewing the encounter as an important opportunity for his young squad to test itself against a team that has competed at the FIFA World Cup.

India, currently ranked 138th in the FIFA rankings, face a Panama side placed 44th in the world. Panama have appeared at the 2018 and 2026 World Cups, making the fixture a significant test for Jamil’s developing side.

Jamil believes the quality of the opposition can help India assess where it stands and what needs to improve.

“I think this is a good opportunity to play against a team who has just come from the World Cup. They played really good in the World Cup. They have good players and it is going to be a very good test for us,” Jamil said at the pre-match press conference.

Panama featured in Group L at the 2026 World Cup alongside England, Croatia and Ghana. While they did not win a match, their performances against established international opposition provided valuable experience.

For Jamil, the match is also part of a wider rebuilding process. The India coach has included several younger players in the squad while leaving out some senior names, although he stressed that experienced players could return in future camps.

“Yes, I have left out some senior players. But it is not like we will not take them again. They are most welcome to be back again. Yes, we are thinking about building a new team. We have younger players. They need to play more matches,” he said.

Jamil has opted to blend youth with experience, with players such as Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and Anirudh Thapa providing seniority to the squad.

The coach also wants India to avoid sitting deep throughout the contest despite facing a higher-ranked opponent.

“Yes, we are playing a stronger team. But at the same time, you cannot defend every time. So, there will be a mix of defending and attacking. So, according to the situation, we will react,” he concluded.

Panama will only be the first of India’s high-profile opponents, as Brazil and Uruguay are next in Kolkata on October 3 and 6 respectively.