It’s official: Hosts India will take on the Brazil football team on October 3 in Kolkata
Indian football is set for one of its biggest occasions as the Blue Tigers prepare to face five-time FIFA World Cup champions Brazil in an international friendly at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on October 3. The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) confirmed the match on Wednesday, with the match scheduled to be the Selecao’s first appearance on Indian soil.
The announcement marks the end of days of speculation Brazil’s proposed visit to India. Earlier reports from ESPN Brasil suggested that CBF had advanced negotiations for a friendly in Kolkata, although the opposition had not yet been finalized at the time.
Discussions between the CBF and Indian stakeholders reportedly began during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Brazil’s interest in playing in India gained momentum after its World Cup campaign received overwhelming support from Indian fans, with packed screenings, murals and celebrations across the country that went viral on social media.
“The program of the Brazilian national team continues. After the friendly matches in Australia, our next destination will be India, where we will write an unprecedented chapter in our history. On October 3, the national team will take the field for the first time on Indian soil, at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. It will be a special meeting with the country that hosts the largest international fan base of the Brazilian national team, the Brazilian national team and the impact on the history of Brazilian football, which has an impact on the Brazilian football team. eager to relive this moment alongside millions of Indian fans, we will see you in Kolkata,” CBF said in a statement.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has also confirmed the match. “A date for the history books. India vs Brazil FIFA International Friendly at Salt Lake Stadium on October 3,” AIFF posted on its official X handle.
The match will see India take on their highest-ranked opponents since the introduction of the FIFA World Ranking System in 1992, with Brazil currently ranked fifth in the world.
Led by captain Marquinhos and stars like Casemiro and Matheus Cunha, Brazil will arrive in India after playing two previously announced friendlies against Australia in Queensland on September 25 and 29.
The friendship comes months after Brazil’s World Cup campaign ended in the round of 16. Despite this disappointment, the Selecao’s popularity in India remains huge, especially in Kolkata, where the city’s streets were once again draped in Brazil’s iconic yellow and green during the tournament.
AIFF Deputy General Secretary M. Satyanarayan described the match as a landmark for Indian football.
“Welcoming a team of Brazil’s caliber to our country is an extraordinary moment which will undoubtedly become a landmark in the history of Indian football,” he said.
National team director Subrata Paul said the match will provide a rare opportunity for Indian players to test themselves against one of football’s biggest nations.
“Experiences like these challenge players to grow, inspire them to dream bigger and leave memories that will last throughout their careers,” he said.
KOLKATA’S LONG-TERM LOVE WITH BRAZIL
Kolkata’s association with Brazilian football goes back several decades. During the World Cup, the city was once again transformed into a sea of yellow and green as supporters decorated neighborhoods with Brazilian flags, murals and giant cutouts of the players as they supported the five-time world champions.
The association dates back to 1977 when Pele visited Kolkata with the New York Cosmos to take on Mohun Bagan in a match that remains one of the defining moments in Indian football history.
However, the match on October 3 will stand on its own. This will be the first time Brazil’s senior national team has played in India and offers the Blue Tigers a rare opportunity to test themselves against one of the most successful teams in international football.
Brazil head into the match after a disappointing FIFA World Cup campaign that ended in the round of 16. Norway eliminated the five-time champions despite an impressive tournament from Vinicius Junior, who finished with four goals and one assist.
– The end
Issued by:
Akshay Ramesh
Published on:
30 Jul 2026 20:58 IST