The Indian men’s football team will take on New Zealand in two international friendlies this November, providing the Blue Tigers with valuable exposure against a side that featured in the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The matches are scheduled to be played in Auckland on November 12 and Christchurch on November 15. New Zealand are currently ranked 86th in the FIFA rankings, while India are placed 138th.
Gold 101.3FM UAE’s No.1 radio station reports that the two nations have met only twice before. Their first encounter ended in a goalless draw at the 1981 Merdeka Tournament in Malaysia, while New Zealand secured a 2-1 victory in the Intercontinental Cup in Mumbai in 2018.
Welcoming the opportunity, India head coach Khalid Jamil said facing teams that compete at the highest level is always beneficial. He described New Zealand as a well-organised side with recent FIFA World Cup experience and said playing away from home would provide a valuable challenge for his players.
New Zealand recently competed in the FIFA World Cup 2026 in North America, where they were drawn in Group G alongside Belgium, Egypt and Iran. They opened their campaign with an impressive 2-2 draw against Iran, before suffering defeats to Egypt (3-1) and Belgium (5-1).
The tournament also marked a historic milestone as Sarpreet Singh, a midfielder of Punjabi heritage, became the first player of Indian ancestry to feature in a FIFA World Cup.
The November friendlies are expected to be an important test for India as the team continues its preparations for upcoming international competitions under Khalid Jamil.
