Indian football will see one of its biggest matches on October 3 when the Blue Tigers take on five-time World Cup champions Brazil in an international friendly match at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.The All India Football Federation (AIFF) confirmed the match on Thursday following reports in Brazilian media over the past few days.“A day that will go down in history. A FIFA International Friendly match between India and Brazil will be held at the Salt Lake Stadium on October 3,” AIFF posted on its official X account.The match will pit India against the highest-ranked team since the FIFA world ranking system was introduced in 1992. Brazil is currently ranked fifth in the world.The Brazil squad, captained by Marquinhos and featuring players like Casemiro and Matheus Cunha, is expected to travel to India after playing two friendlies against Australia in Queensland from September 25 to 29.The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has announced the matches, while Brazilian outlet GE Globo reports that Brazil’s third match during the October FIFA window will be against India in Kolkata.The friendly came just months after Brazil’s participation in the FIFA World Cup, where they were eliminated in the last 16.Even after withdrawing, Brazil still enjoys strong support in India, especially in Kolkata, where many fans once again decorated the streets in Brazilian yellow and green during the World Cup.AIFF Deputy Secretary General M Satyanarayan said that this match will be an important moment for Indian football.“Welcoming a team like Brazil to our country is a remarkable moment and will undoubtedly go down as a landmark chapter 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 their skills against one of the biggest nations in football.“Experiences like this challenge players to grow, inspire them to dream bigger, and create lasting memories throughout their careers,” he said.Kolkata has long-standing ties with BrazilBrazil’s visit also refreshes Kolkata’s long-standing partnership with the South American side, which dates back nearly five years.The city’s association with Brazilian football began on September 24, 1977, when Pele’s New York Cosmos played Mohun Bagan in an exhibition match at Eden Gardens. The game ended 2-2.Kolkata also hosted other major football clubs, including German champions Bayern Munich, who played Mohun Bagan in Oliver Kahn’s farewell match in 2008.
