Defending champions India will take on Pakistan in the opening match of the SAFF Championship, which will kick off in Dhaka on November 5.

Brazil will face Australia in Townsville on September 25 and Brisbane on September 29 before taking on India in Kolkata on October 3.

The eastern Indian city of Kolkata will host heavyweights Brazil and Uruguay in international football friendlies against the host nation in October, the All India Football Federation said on Thursday.

Head coach Peter Butler lauded the character and resilience of his players after Bangladesh overcame early pressure from India to secure a 2-0 win in their second match of the SAFF Women’s U-19 Championship at the Pokhara Stadium in Nepal on Monday.

Former Perth Glory winger Ryan Williams has given up his Australian nationality to represent India, his current club Bengaluru FC confirmed to Reuters on Friday.

India great Sunil Chhetri was left out as head coach Khalid Jamil on Wednesday announced a 23-member squad of probables for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Bangladesh in Dhaka on November 18.

Former India player Khalid Jamil was on Friday appointed coach of the struggling national men's football team, a month after Spain's Manolo Marquez stepped down following poor results.

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) confirmed on Saturday that a job application attributed to former Barcelona manager and Spain midfielder Xavi Hernandez for the India head coaching role was a hoax.

Bangladesh centre-back Tapu Barman said his side would have to be wary about India’s set-piece prowess ahead of the much-anticipated Asian Cup Qualifiers fixture between the sides in Shillong on March 25. 

Thousands cheered a tearful Sunil Chhetri off the pitch after his last match for India on Thursday, bringing to a close an international career which put him among the world's all-time leading scorers.

India's football icon Sunil Chhetri announced on Thursday that he will retire from international football after the FIFA World Cup qualification match against Kuwait on June 6.

India's Sunil Chhetri scored twice to take his international tally to 82 goals in a 2-0 win over Cambodia on Wednesday in Kolkata as Igor Stimac's side made a winning start to the third round of qualifying for next year's Asian Cup.