Kolkata, September 27, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Indian women’s national football team will make its first-ever international appearance in Kolkata when it faces Russia in two friendly matches at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan on October 8 and 11, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced on Sunday.
The fixtures will be India’s first international outings since the Blue Tigresses won the SAFF Women’s Championship for a record-extending sixth time in June. India, ranked 69th in the world, will use the FIFA Women’s International Match Window to test themselves against Russia, who are ranked 27th.
The matches will also mark India’s return to West Bengal after a decade. The team last played in the state during the 2016 SAFF Women’s Championship in Siliguri, where they went on to win the title.
For Russia, the visit will be their first to India since 1994, when they participated in the eight-nation Jayalalitha Cup in Chennai and finished runners-up.
The October games will be the third and fourth meetings between the two sides. India lost 0-8 to Russia at the Turkish Women’s Cup in 2021 before suffering a 0-2 defeat at the Pink Ladies Cup in the UAE in 2025.
India head coach Crispin Chettri said the fixtures would provide valuable exposure against high-level opposition while allowing the team to give opportunities to emerging players.
“Playing against quality opposition is always valuable for the development of the team,” Chettri said, adding that the focus would also be on building a squad capable of competing at a higher international level.
The Blue Tigresses have been training in Kolkata since September 18, with Chettri set to announce the final squad closer to the matches. He also said playing before a home crowd would help the players gain experience of handling the expectations and atmosphere associated with international football.
The AIFF has described the Russia fixtures as part of an extensive autumn international schedule involving India’s senior, women’s senior and youth teams across multiple venues.
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