India are set for one of the biggest nights in the country’s football history as the Blue Tigers face five-time FIFA World Cup winners Brazil in a historic international friendly at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK) in Kolkata on Saturday.
The match, scheduled for October 3, marks the first-ever meeting between India and Brazil at senior international level and gives the Indian team an opportunity to test itself against one of the most decorated football nations in the world.
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India enter the contest after being held to a draw by Panama, while Brazil arrive in Kolkata following a 1-1 draw in Townsville and a 4-2 victory over Australia in Brisbane.
The Brazilian delegation reached Kolkata ahead of the match and trained at the VYBK on Friday. Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti and India head coach Khalid Jamil also appeared together at a press conference on the eve of the much-anticipated fixture.
Brazil are expected to field several of their biggest names, with Vinicius Jr., Endrick, Marquinhos, Gabriel Magalhaes and Bruno Guimaraes among the players likely to feature. India, meanwhile, will look to players including Ryan Williams, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Sahal Abdul Samad, Anwar Ali and Bijoy Varghese.
The match will be played at the VYBK, popularly known as the Salt Lake Stadium, with the kickoff scheduled for 7:30 pm IST.
For Indian football fans unable to attend the match in Kolkata, the game will be available on television through the Sony Sports Network. The match will be broadcast on Sony Sports 2, Sony Sports 3, Sony Sports 4 and Sony Aath.
The India-Brazil friendly will also be streamed live through the SonyLIV app and website for subscribers.
India’s squad includes goalkeepers Albino Gomes, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Prabhsukhan Singh Gill and Som Kumar. The defensive group features Abhishek Singh Tekcham, Akash Mishra, Anwar Ali, Bijoy Varghese, Hmingthanmawia Ralte, Jay Gupta, Pramveer and Ricky Meetei Haobam.
The midfield options include Anirudh Thapa, Lalengmawia Ralte, Macarton Nickson, Mohammed Sanan, Ricky Shabong and Sahal Abdul Samad, while the attacking group includes Ashique Kuruniyan, Farukh Choudhary, Edmund Lalrindika, Irfan Yadwad, Manvir Singh, Rahim Ali, Ryan Williams and Vikram Partap Singh.
Brazil’s squad features Hugo Souza, Pedro Morisco, Otávio, Arthur Dias, Douglas Santos, Gabriel Magalhaes, Jair, Marquinhos, Matheuzinho, Mauro Junior, Vitor Reis and Wesley.
The midfield includes Andrey Santos, Breno Bidon, Bruno Guimaraes, Danilo Santos and Douglas Luiz, while Brazil’s attacking options include Gabriel Botelho, Martinelli, Endrick, Estevao, Pedro, Rayan, Samuel Lino and Vinicius Junior.
With two footballing nations meeting for the first time, the Kolkata friendly promises to be a landmark occasion for Indian football.
Match details: India vs Brazil, October 3, 2026, 7:30 pm IST, Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata. Live on Sony Sports Network and SonyLIV.
