3 min readUpdated: Aug 6, 2026 08:03 PM IST
The All India Football federation (AIFF) on Thursday announced that India will play the international friendly against Brazil on October 3 as well as take part in the FIFA ASEAN Cup in Indonesia, set from September 24 to October 3. The football body said that two separate squads will be announced for the Brazil match as well as the ASEAN Cup.
“One of the principal decisions taken during the meeting was to confirm India’s participation in both — the men’s international friendly against five-time FIFA World champions Brazil, scheduled to be played in Kolkata on October 3, 2026, and the FIFA ASEAN Cup in Indonesia from September 24 to October 3, 2026,” AIFF said in a statement after an executive committee meeting in Delhi on Thursday.
“The Executive Committee recognised the match against Brazil, to be played during the FIFA International Match Window, as a unique opportunity to provide Indian players with invaluable exposure against one of the world’s strongest footballing nations. Accordingly, the AIFF will formally notify FIFA that India will participate in both competitions by fielding separate squads for the match against Brazil and the FIFA ASEAN Cup,” it added.
The AIFF Executive Committee meeting was held at Football House on Thursday.
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Last week, AIFF had announced that India will face Brazil at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on October 3.
For Brazil, this will be the final stop in the first set of friendlies they will play after a disappointing World Cup campaign. The five-time world champions will face Australia in two matches on September 25 in Townsville and on September 29 in Brisbane. The India visit will be their third match of the window.
For India, though, this might just be the biggest match they have played at home. It will be the first time India will play a side ranked in the top five of the FIFA rankings, with Brazil currently ranked fifth. India have almost never been in the conversation when it comes to competing in the tournaments that Brazil tend to be interested in, but the cultural significance of the latter can be seen whenever a World Cup comes around, particularly in regions like Kolkata and Kerala.
