The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Thursday, July 30, announced that the Indian men’s football team will face five-time FIFA World Cup champions Brazil in an international friendly at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium on October 3. The match will be played during the FIFA international window and is expected to draw a capacity crowd in one of the country’s most football-passionate cities.
โFor our national team players, this is far more than just another match. It is a rare opportunity to test themselves against one of the greatest footballing nations the game has ever known. Experiences like these challenge players to grow, inspire them to dream bigger, and leave memories that stay with them throughout their careers,โ Subrata Paul, former goalkeeper and the current director of the national team, said.ย
The announcement comes less than three weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to New Zealand, unveiled two international friendlies between India and the All Whites as part of the ‘100 Years of Unity Through Sport’ celebrations. India are scheduled to play New Zealand in Auckland on November 12 before travelling to Christchurch for the second fixture on November 15.
More to follow..