India women host Russia in historic Kolkata friendly

India's women's football team will play Russia in a historic friendly in Kolkata this October. The Blue Tigresses face the European side at Kishore Bharati Krirangan, also known as the Salt Lake Stadium, on Thursday, 8 October 2026, with kick-off at 7:00 PM IST. This FIFA Women's International Friendly marks India's first outing since winning the SAFF Women’s Championship in June and will be streamed live on the Indian Football YouTube channel. It is the first international women's football match ever to be held at the venue.

India's form and squad

India enters the fixture on a five-match winning run. Since a loss to Kenya earlier in the year, the team has won every match, including all games at the SAFF Women’s Championship, scoring 21 goals during this streak. Head coach Crispin Chhetri has named a 24-player squad with an average age of 23, featuring several graduates from the India U20 setup. The squad includes promising young talents like 21-year-old Lynda Kom Serto, who has seven goals in 17 national team appearances, and 19-year-old winger Sibani Devi Nongmeikapam. The team will be without key players Aveka Singh and Manisha Kalyan, who were not released by their clubs.

India is ranked 69th in the world and has never beaten Russia. The head-to-head record shows two matches played, both Russian victories.

Russia's record and threat

Russia arrives with a formidable historical edge. They have won both previous meetings against India, scoring 10 goals without conceding. This includes an 8-0 victory in 2021 and a 2-0 win at the 2025 Pink Ladies Cup, where Glafira Zhukova and Valentina Smirnova scored. Russia has played four competitive matches in 2026 and recorded back-to-back wins over China's women's team in June. They have brought a relatively strong squad for the friendlies.

Context and availability

Player availability has been impacted by club commitments. Crispin Chhetri noted that East Bengal's AFC Women's Champions League campaign and the Indian Women's League affected availability for a longer preparatory camp. Beyond the confirmed YouTube stream, there is no further telecast information for the match. Emerging players Lynda Kom Serto and Malavika P. are in contention for greater responsibility in the squad.

The fixture is a significant test for India, who lost all three matches at the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup and were defeated by Kenya in the 2026 FIFA Women's Series semi-finals. Crispin Chhetri’s side looks to maintain their positive momentum with a promising result against the dangerous European opponent in the friendly clash. The match is scheduled for Thursday, 8 October 2026 at 7:00 PM IST at Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata.