India, Aug. 27 -- Nearly 44 years after Enzo Francescoli made his international debut at Eden Gardens, Uruguay will return to the city for a friendly on October 6 completing an unprecedented set of three matches that India will play at home against teams from the 2026 World Cup.

"La Celeste's arrival in Kolkata adds another major fixture to an unprecedented run of international football for Indian fans, with three World Cup-playing nations - Panama, Brazil and Uruguay - set to visit the country within the same FIFA window," the All India Football Federation (AIFF) said in a media release on Thursday.

India will also travel to 2026 World Cup finalists New Zealand for two friendlies making this a year like no other for the men's national ...