It's official: Hosts India will play Brazil football team on October 3 in Kolkata

Brazil's senior men's football team will play its first-ever match in India when it faces the Blue Tigers in an international friendly at Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium on October 3, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) confirmed.It’s official: Brazil football team will take on India in Kolkata on October 3 (Reuters Photo)The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has confirmed that Brazil will play India in an international friendly at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on October 3, marking the Selecao's first match on Indian soil.The announcement brings an end to days of speculation over Brazil's proposed visit to India. Earlier reports from ESPN Brasil had suggested that the CBF was in advanced talks to stage a friendly in Kolkata, although the opposition had not been finalised at the time.The discussions between the CBF and Indian stakeholders reportedly began during the FIFA World Cup 2026. Brazil's interest in playing in India gathered momentum after the team's World Cup campaign drew massive support from Indian fans, with visuals of packed screenings, murals and supporters across the country widely shared on social media."The Brazilian National Team's schedule continues. After the friendlies 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 encounter with a country that hosts the largest international fanbase of the Brazilian National Team and that, for generations, has followed the history of Brazilian football with immense affection and passion. We are eager to live this moment alongside millions of Indian fans! See you in Kolkata," the CBF said in a statement. Brazil will arrive in India after completing two previously confirmed friendlies against Australia, with matches scheduled in Townsville on September 25 and Brisbane on September 29.KOLKATA'S LONG-STANDING LOVE AFFAIR WITH BRAZILKolkata's association with Brazilian football stretches back several decades. During the World Cup, the city once again turned into a sea of yellow and green as supporters decorated neighbourhoods with Brazilian flags, murals and giant cut-outs of players while backing the five-time world champions. The bond dates back to 1977, when Pele visited Kolkata with New York Cosmos to face Mohun Bagan in a match that remains one of the defining moments in Indian football history.The October 3 fixture, however, will stand on its own. It will be the first time Brazil's senior men's national team plays in India and offers the Blue Tigers a rare opportunity to test themselves against one of international football's most successful sides.Brazil head into the match after a disappointing FIFA World Cup campaign that ended in the Round of 16. Norway knocked out the five-time champions despite an impressive tournament from Vinicius Junior, who finished with four goals and one assist.- EndsPublished By: Akshay RameshPublished On: Jul 30, 2026 20:58 IST