India have withdrawn from the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup as they look to focus on their high-profile international friendly against five-time world champions Brazil in Oct, All India Football Federation (AIFF) deputy secretary general M Satyanarayanan said on Thursday (Aug 13).&nbsp;India’s decision means they will miss the chance to play some of Southeast Asia’s top teams in a FIFA-sanctioned tournament.&nbsp;“We have pulled out of the FIFA ASEAN Cup since we can’t play both Brazil and FIFA ASEAN Cup,” Satyanarayanan told PTI.&nbsp;The FIFA ASEAN Cup was planned as a new international competition for teams from the ASEAN region, with India invited as one of the non-ASEAN teams.&nbsp;&nbsp;India had initially accepted FIFA’s invitation and were placed in Division 1 Group A alongside Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. The tournament was scheduled to take place during the Sep 21 to Oct 6 FIFA international window.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/aus-vs-ban-mitchell-starc-scripts-history-becomes-test-cricket-s-most-successful-left-arm-bowler-1786616383318">Mitchell Starc scripts history, becomes Test’s most successful left-arm bowler</a>&nbsp;However, India’s friendly against Brazil on Oct 3 at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium created a scheduling conflict.&nbsp;The AIFF had earlier considered sending a separate squad for the ASEAN Cup but has now decided to withdraw from the tournament and use the international window for friendly matches. The Brazil game was officially announced last month.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/afg-vs-ire-sediqullah-atal-scripts-history-with-highest-odi-score-on-birthday-1786614540284">AFG vs IRE: Sediqullah Atal scripts history with highest ODI score on birthday</a>&nbsp;Meanwhile, reports on Thursday claimed that India are also considering friendlies against teams that played at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.&nbsp;&nbsp;Cabo Verde and Iran are among the teams reportedly being discussed, although the AIFF has not officially confirmed these matches.&nbsp;The decision is a major change from India’s earlier plans, as the team had accepted FIFA’s invitation and signed the participation agreement.&nbsp;However, India failed to qualify for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup and have found it difficult to regularly secure matches against strong international opponents in recent years.

The AIFF has decided to prioritise the Brazil friendly over the FIFA ASEAN Cup, despite earlier plans to field separate squads for the two competitions.

India have withdrawn from the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup as they look to focus on their high-profile international friendly against five-time world champions Brazil in Oct, All India Football Federation (AIFF) deputy secretary general M Satyanarayanan said on Thursday (Aug 13). India’s decision means they will miss the chance to play some of Southeast Asia’s top teams in a FIFA-sanctioned tournament. “We have pulled out of the FIFA ASEAN Cup since we can’t play both Brazil and FIFA ASEAN Cup,” Satyanarayanan told PTI. The FIFA ASEAN Cup was planned as a new international competition for teams from the ASEAN region, with India invited as one of the non-ASEAN teams. India had initially accepted FIFA’s invitation and were placed in Division 1 Group A alongside Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. The tournament was scheduled to take place during the Sep 21 to Oct 6 FIFA international window. Also Read - Mitchell Starc scripts history, becomes Test’s most successful left-arm bowler However, India’s friendly against Brazil on Oct 3 at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium created a scheduling conflict. The AIFF had earlier considered sending a separate squad for the ASEAN Cup but has now decided to withdraw from the tournament and use the international window for friendly matches. The Brazil game was officially announced last month. Also Read - AFG vs IRE: Sediqullah Atal scripts history with highest ODI score on birthday Meanwhile, reports on Thursday claimed that India are also considering friendlies against teams that played at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Cabo Verde and Iran are among the teams reportedly being discussed, although the AIFF has not officially confirmed these matches. The decision is a major change from India’s earlier plans, as the team had accepted FIFA’s invitation and signed the participation agreement. However, India failed to qualify for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup and have found it difficult to regularly secure matches against strong international opponents in recent years.

The AIFF has decided to prioritise the Brazil friendly over the FIFA ASEAN Cup, despite earlier plans to field separate squads for the two competitions.

India prioritise Brazil friendly, withdraw from FIFA ASEAN Cup

A date for the history books! In a massive step towards reigniting love for football in the country, India will host five-time world champions Brazil for an international friendly on October 3 at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. The two federations, while confirming this development, jointly acknowledged in their statement the fanbase Brazil has in India. Indian football fans will now have a chance to catch a glimpse of the Selecao playing in India in a dream move.&nbsp;“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!” said the CBF of Brazil’s much-anticipated tour of India for an international friendly.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Da Austrália para a Índia 🇧🇷🇮🇳 A agenda da Seleção Brasileira continua. Depois dos amistosos na Austrália, nosso próximo destino será a Índia, onde escreveremos um capítulo inédito da nossa história. No dia 3 de outubro, a Seleção entrará em campo pela primeira vez em solo… <a href="https://t.co/UNbhtNU3we">pic.twitter.com/UNbhtNU3we</a>&mdash; brasil (@CBF_Futebol) <a href="https://x.com/CBF_Futebol/status/2082843656415826338?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nobody-is-selling-football-fifa-clarifies-investment-plan-amid-backlash-1785481921488">'Nobody is selling football': FIFA clarifies investment plan amid backlash</a>&nbsp;After a disappointing World Cup campaign in North America, where they exited the tournament in the Round of 16 after losing 2-1 to Norway, Brazil will face Australia in two scheduled friendlies in Townsville (September 25) and Brisbane (September 29) before flying to India for their third and final friendly of this window. &nbsp;Meanwhile, for India, this is the first time they are facing a team ranked in the top five FIFA rankings, with Brazil currently placed fifth. Never before have they hosted a team of Brazil’s stature, let alone having faced them in any capacity before. Although India doesn’t participate in tournaments featuring Brazil, Brazil’s cultural significance has prompted an unlikely crossover this year. &nbsp;The AIFF, on the other hand, said that Brazil’s legacy has ‘inspired generations of footballers across the world, including millions of passionate supporters in India.’ &nbsp;“India is known for having one of the largest Brazilian fan bases outside of Brazil.” &nbsp;“To welcome a team of Brazil’s stature to our country is an extraordinary moment and one that will undoubtedly become a landmark chapter in the history of Indian football,” said M Satyanarayan, AIFF deputy secretary general.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">A date for the history books. 🇮🇳🤝🇧🇷 <a href="https://t.co/Sj7zneeHnv">pic.twitter.com/Sj7zneeHnv</a>&mdash; Indian Football (@IndianFootball) <a href="https://x.com/IndianFootball/status/2082844299583217758?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Will Brazilian stars feature against India?</h2>Neymar, Brazil’s all-time top-scorer, who confirmed his international retirement following the country’s disappointing World Cup run, is reported to have promised a farewell match by the CBF; however, Kolkata remains an unlikely venue for that, which rules out his presence for the historic friendly. &nbsp;While it remains unclear whether Carlo Ancelotti will bring his A-team to the friendly, he has recently made it clear that players such as Danilo, Casemiro, and Neymar are no longer part of his plans. Ancelotti will aim to build a team for the 2030 World Cup in Spain, Portugal and Morocco. &nbsp;“I think that this World Cup brings a generation of very important players to an end,” Ancelotti said to local publication O Globo. “Starting with Neymar, also Danilo and Casemiro, all of these players who were over 30 at the World Cup. &nbsp;“We are going to look at new players who can come in. I won’t say specifically for the World Cup in 2030, but who can already be competitive for our first objective, which is the Copa America in 2028,” he said.

India faces five-time champions Brazil in a historic football friendly in Kolkata on October 3. Get match details, venue info, and squad updates.

A date for the history books! In a massive step towards reigniting love for football in the country, India will host five-time world champions Brazil for an international friendly on October 3 at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. The two federations, while confirming this development, jointly acknowledged in their statement the fanbase Brazil has in India. Indian football fans will now have a chance to catch a glimpse of the Selecao playing in India in a dream move. “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!” said the CBF of Brazil’s much-anticipated tour of India for an international friendly.

India faces five-time champions Brazil in a historic football friendly in Kolkata on October 3. Get match details, venue info, and squad updates.

Brazil Coming to Kolkata: India to face football giant in friendly on October 3

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India prioritise Brazil friendly, withdraw from FIFA ASEAN Cup

Brazil Coming to Kolkata: India to face football giant in friendly on October 3