India head coach Khalid Jamil has announced a 28-member preliminary squad for the upcoming Unity Cup in London, as the Blue Tigers begin preparations for a busy international calendar later this year.
The national team will gather in Bengaluru for a short training camp following the conclusion of the Indian Super League 2025-26 season. After the brief camp, the squad will travel to England on May 24, where Jamil will finalise the 23 players for the tournament.
The Unity Cup is expected to provide India with valuable international exposure ahead of major competitions, including the SAFF Championship. Speaking after naming the squad, Jamil stressed the importance of making full use of every FIFA International Window available to the team.
“The Unity Cup will be the perfect opportunity for us to prepare for the official tournaments like the SAFF Championship later this year. We need to utilise every available FIFA International Window to prepare for the tournaments we have up ahead,” Jamil said.
He added that the current squad selection was based on performances in the ongoing ISL season.
“We have selected the 28 players for the preliminary squad, as per their performances in the ongoing ISL. We will have a couple of days to assess them before we pick the final 23,” he said.
India, currently ranked 136th in the FIFA rankings, will face Jamaica, ranked 71st, in the second semi-final on May 27 in London. The match will kick off at midnight IST on May 28. The other semi-final will see Nigeria, ranked 26th in the world, take on Zimbabwe, ranked 130th.
The tournament presents a major challenge for the Blue Tigers, who will be facing physically strong and internationally experienced opponents. It also offers an opportunity for several younger players to impress under Jamil’s leadership.
Experienced names such as goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, defenders Sandesh Jhingan and Rahul Bheke, and midfielders Anirudh Thapa and Lalengmawia Ralte have all been included. Wingers Lallianzuala Chhangte and Liston Colaco are expected to play key attacking roles, while forwards Manvir Singh and Ryan Williams add further experience in the final third.
The squad also includes promising talents like Ricky Shabong, Suhail Ahmad Bhat and Hrithik Tiwari, highlighting Jamil’s intention to blend youth with experience as India look to build momentum for the months ahead.
The two losing semi-finalists will meet in the third-place play-off on June 30, giving India at least two matches against high-level international opposition during the tournament.
