Indian football team players
New Delhi: Indian senior men’s football team head coach Khalid Jameel on Thursday announced the 28-member starting squad for the upcoming Unity Cup 2026, featuring the return of Mohun Bagan midfielder Anirudh Thapa. The Blue Tigers will gather in Bengaluru for a short training camp after the conclusion of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2025-26 season. The head coach will evaluate the players during the camp before finalizing the 23-man roster to board the flight to London on May 24. Jamil emphasized that testing the team against top-tier opponents provides important exposure. “We need to use every available FIFA international window to prepare for the upcoming tournaments,” said the coach, pointing to the SAFF Championship later this year.What is Unity Cup? The Unity Cup is a premier international football tournament that celebrates the African heartland and global diaspora communities. First held at Loftus Road, home of Queens Park Rangers (QPR) in 2002, followed by The Valley in 2004, the tournament was revived in Brentford in 2025 after a long hiatus. Following the resounding success of the 2025 edition, the 2026 edition marks an emotional return to its historic home, The Valley — the home ground of Charlton Athletic FC in South London — from May 26 to May 30.The four-nation knockout event features defending champions Nigeria, Jamaica, Zimbabwe and India. The participation holds huge historical significance for the Blue Tigers, marking their return to the UK for international matches after a gap of 24 years.Currently ranked 136th in the world, India face a tough challenge against 71st-ranked Jamaica in the second semi-final on May 27 at midnight (May 28 IST). Meanwhile, tournament heavyweights Nigeria (ranked 26) will take on Zimbabwe (ranked 130) in the opening semi-final on May 26. The winning teams will advance to the finals on May 30, while the losing teams will play a third-place playoff earlier that day.India’s 28-man starting squad for Unity Cup 2026:Goalkeepers: Gurpreet Singh Sindhu, Vishal Keith, Hrithik Tiwari, Albino Gomez.The protector: Rahul Bheke, Nikhil Pujari, Roshan Singh Noram, Abhishek Singh Tekcham, Anwar Ali, Sandesh Jhangan, Akash Mishra, Bejoy Varghese, Param Veer.Midfielders: Ashiq Crunyan, Laling Maviya Ralte, Sohal Abdul Samad, Anirudh Thapa, Jackson Singh Thonaujam, Naufal PN, Ricky Shabong.ahead: Ryan Williams, Manveer Singh, Liston Colaco, Sohail Ahmed Bhatt, Edmund Lalrendica, Lalianzwala Chhangte, Rahim Ali, Farrukh Chowdhury.
