Photo: Collected
The SAFF Championship gets under way in Dhaka next Thursday. India have named a 28-member squad for this contest for supremacy in South Asian football. The squad announced by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) includes age-group players alongside experienced ones.
India’s under-23 coach Naushad Moosa will serve as the team’s head coach at the tournament. His assistant is under-15 coach Bibiano Fernandes.
At the same time, India’s senior national team will tour New Zealand to play two friendlies, in Auckland and Christchurch. India’s regular head coach Khalid Jamil will be with the team there. That is why the SAFF squad includes age-group footballers alongside experienced national team players.
Most of the players in the squad are from the under-23 side. However, the 28-man list also features several experienced faces from the senior national team: Liston Colaco, Farukh Choudhary, Chinglensana Singh Konsham, Suresh Singh Wangjam, Bijoy Varghese, Irfan Yadwad and Brison Fernandes.
India’s opponents in Group B of the SAFF Championship are the Maldives and Pakistan. India will begin their campaign against Pakistan at 3:30pm on 5 November. The team will face the Maldives at the same time on 11 November.
India squad for the SAFF Championship
Goalkeepers: Arsh Anwer Shaikh, K Mohanraj, Priyansh Dubey.
Defenders: Abdul Rabeeh, Bijoy Varghese, Chinglensana Singh Konsham, Hmingthanmawia Ralte, Khaiminthang Lhungdim, Muhammed Uvais, Nathan Rodrigues, Ronney Kharbudon, Sandip Mandi.
Midfielders: Abhishek Suryavanshi, Addison Singh Thokchom, Brison Fernandes, Ebindas Yesudasan, Farukh Choudhary, Macarton Nickson, Manglenthang Kipgen, Nikhil Prabhu, Noufal PN, Ricky John Shabong, Suresh Singh Wangjam.
Forwards: Irfan Yadwad, Liston Colaco, Muhammed Suhail, Vishnu PV, Suhail Ahmad Bhat.
Background
According to an All India Football Federation (AIFF) report of 1 August 2026, the SAFF Championship in Dhaka was scheduled to be held from 4 to 17 November. Sources differ on the start date.
That AIFF report said hosts Bangladesh are in Group A with Sri Lanka and Bhutan.
By the numbers
According to the AIFF, India have won the SAFF Championship nine times before.
Sources
Original report: Bangladesh Pratidin
Background sources: AIFF, 1 August 2026
