Kolkata, Oct. 7 -- At the final whistle in Bengaluru, the Indian players clenched their fists and embraced after holding Panama 1-1.
Days later in Kolkata, Khalid Jamil and Carlo Ancelotti embraced on a press conference podium before India faced Brazil. On the final night, 37,307 spectators roared as Anirudh Thapa equalised against Uruguay. Thunder followed within minutes.
India had welcomed three teams from the 2026 World Cup. Ryan Williams' goal gave the Blue Tigers the lead against Panama; Brazil's canary yellow then shared the Salt Lake Stadium with India blue for the teams' first senior meeting. Against Uruguay, Thapa's finish made him only the second Indian to score against La Celeste in a senior international, 44 years after Manas ...