India vs Brazil Football Friendly 2026: Where to Watch Live; venue, kick-off time, squads, formations; everything you need to know
India will take on Brazil in a historic Kolkata friendly where Vinicius Junior, Endrick and Carlo Ancelotti feature in a star-studded Brazil side. India are set for one of the biggest nights of football in their history when the Blue Tigers take on five-time FIFA World Cup champions Brazil in Kolkata on Saturday. The match will bring Vinicius Junior, Endrick and a star-studded Brazil team coached by Carlo Ancelotti to the Salt Lake Stadium, with the 138th-ranked Indians taking on the world No.5 side in the first senior international meeting between the two countries.
India vs Brazil: A historic night in Kolkata
The India vs Brazil international friendly will be played at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan Stadium, better known as the Salt Lake Stadium, in Kolkata on Saturday, October 3, 2026.Kick-off is scheduled for 19:30 Indian Standard Time (IST).It will be the first ever international senior football match between India and Brazil, with Brazil playing an international match on Indian soil for the first time. The match gives India a rare opportunity to face one of the most successful national teams in FIFA World Cup history.Brazil are currently ranked 5th in the FIFA rankings, while India are at 138. This makes Brazil the highest-ranked opposition India have faced since the introduction of the FIFA rankings in 1992. The 133-place difference also makes it an unusually steep test for Khalid Jamil’s side.The Blue Tigers go into the match with some confidence after holding Panama to a 1-1 draw in Bengaluru last week.Ryan Williams put India ahead in the first half before Panama’s Omar Valencia equalized after the break. India remained competitive during this competition despite Panama being ranked 44th in the world, 94 places above India.However, the Brazilian challenge represents a completely different level.After facing Brazil, India will remain in Kolkata to take on two-time world champions Uruguay on October 6, giving Jamil’s side another big test during the international window.
Vinicius Junior, Endrick and a star-studded Brazil squad
Brazil arrive in Kolkata under head coach Carlo Ancelotti after two warm-up matches against Australia.The first ended in a 1-1 draw in Townsville before Brazil responded with a 4-2 victory in Brisbane. Vinicius Junior scored in the second leg and is among the main names expected to attract the attention of the fans at the Salt Lake Stadium.Brazil’s squad also includes Endrick, Rayan, Estevao, Pedro and Samuel Lino, giving Ancelotti several attacking options as he continues to develop the squad beyond the 2026 FIFA World Cup.There is considerable experience elsewhere in the squad, with Marquinhos, Gabriel Magalhaes and Bruno Guimaraes among the established internationals traveling to Kolkata.Raphinha was initially named in the squad but has since been ruled out after sustaining a thigh injury against Australia. Brazil did not call a replacement for the Barcelona striker. Chelsea striker Joao Pedro also withdrew earlier due to injury and was replaced by Fluminense midfielder Gabriel Martinelli.Ancelotti hinted that the match against India will also provide opportunities for players who have had fewer minutes during the international window. For example, Brazilian goalkeeper Pedro Morisco is set to start against India after Hugo Souza and Otavio featured in previous matches.The visit of Brazil created considerable excitement in Kolkata, a city with a long association with Brazilian football. The Brazilian team received a rapturous welcome upon their arrival in the city, with captain Marquinhos describing the match as an opportunity to appreciate the country’s large Indian fan base.
Where to watch live India vs Brazil in India
The friendly between India and Brazil will start at 19:30 IST on Saturday, October 3.Fans in India can watch the match live on Sony Sports Network, with telecasts available on Sony Sports 2, Sony Sports 3, Sony Sports 4 and Sony Aath.The match will also be available for live streaming on SonyLIV through its app and website. SonyLIV has included India’s international friendlies against Brazil and Uruguay as part of its 2026 football coverage.
India vs Brazil 2026: Complete Lineups
India: Albino Gomes, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Prabhsukhan Singh Gill, Som Kumar, Abhishek Singh Tekcham, Akash Mishra, Anwar Ali, Bijoy Varghese, Hmingthanmawia Ralte, Jay Gupta, Pramveer, Ricky Meetei Haobam, Anirudh Choukhupa, Ashirudh Choukh Thapa, Lalengmawia Ralte, Macarton Nickson, Mohammed Sanan, Ricky Shabong, Sahal Abdul Samad, Edmund Lalrindika, Irfan Yadwad. Manvir Singh, Rahim Ali, Ryan Williams, Vikram Partap Singh.Brazil: Hugo Souza, Pedro Morisco, Otavio, Arthur Dias, Douglas Santos, Gabriel Magalhaes, Jair, Marquinhos, Matheuzinho, Mauro Junior, Vitor Reis, Wesley, Andrey Santos, Breno Bidon, Bruno Guimaraes, Danilo Santos, Douglas Luiz, Gabriel Bontempo, Li Gabrieleva, Vinici, Pe Endrick, Samuel.Raphinha was originally in the Brazil squad, but he withdrew due to injury and no replacement was called up. The Indian squad consists of 26 players, some of the more familiar names to Indian fans include Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Anirudh Thapa, Sahal Abdul Samad, Manvir Singh and Ryan Williams.
Football India vs Brazil 2026: Match Details
- Wrestle: India vs Brazil
- Competition: FIFA international friendly match
- Date: Saturday, October 3, 2026
- Place: Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium), Kolkata
- Kickoff: 19:30 IST
- FIFA India Rankings: 138
- Brazil FIFA Ranking: 5
- Live TV in India: Sony Sports 2, Sony Sports 3, Sony Sports 4 and Sony Aath
- Live broadcast: SonyLIV
- Next match for India: Uruguay, October 6 in Calcutta
For Indian football, the occasion goes beyond another international friendly: it’s the senior men’s first meeting with Brazil, bringing Ancelotti’s team and some of the biggest names in world football to Kolkata for a match the Blue Tigers will use as one of the toughest tests of the year.