Archive · 6 Sep 2026
Cafu Urges India to Dream Bigger Before Brazil Friendly
India is scheduled to play Brazil in a football match in Kolkata on October 3.
Brazil is one of the strongest football teams in the world.
Bhaichung Bhutia worries that India may spend most of the match defending.
He believes India should first improve its coaching, especially for young players.
Cafu agrees that India needs better coaches and more football knowledge.
However, Cafu says India should not think of itself as a small football country.
He believes Brazil can help India develop the sport.
Cafu also said children need opportunities in both sport and education.
He shared that he became a professional player despite people telling him he would never succeed.
Former Brazil captain Cafu urged India to stop viewing itself as a small footballing nation.
Cafu said Brazil would gladly cooperate with India through coaching and knowledge exchange.
Former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia questioned whether India should face Brazil before improving its football standards.
India and Brazil are scheduled to play an international friendly in Kolkata on October 3.
Cafu cited Japan and China as examples of countries that benefited from investing in coaches and youth development.
- Who
- Former Brazil captain Cafu and former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia discussed India's football development.
- What
- Cafu encouraged India to believe in its football potential and cooperate with Brazil, while Bhutia raised concerns about the timing and value of the Brazil friendly.
- When
- The discussion took place on Saturday; the friendly is scheduled for October 3.
- Where
- The discussion was held at the Global Impact Forum in Mumbai, and the match is scheduled for Yuba Bharati Krirangan, also known as Salt Lake Stadium, in Kolkata.
- Why
- Bhutia said India should improve its coaching and standards before facing leading football nations, while Cafu argued that international cooperation and opportunities could help India grow.
Bhutia's Caution
Cafu's Optimism
Timing of the Brazil match
Bhutia's Caution
Bhutia said matches against leading football nations should be played on merit after India reaches the required standard.
Cafu's Optimism
Cafu said India should not consider itself too small and should believe it has the power to grow.
India's development priorities
Bhutia's Caution
Bhutia emphasized bringing in high-quality coaches, especially for grassroots football, before prioritizing such fixtures.
Cafu's Optimism
Cafu supported better coaching but also advocated international cooperation, knowledge exchange and opportunities for children.
Value of the friendly
Bhutia's Caution
Bhutia predicted that Brazil would dominate and India would largely defend during the match.
Cafu's Optimism
Cafu presented the match and broader cooperation as part of a longer-term opportunity to develop Indian football.
- Match
- India versus Brazil international friendly
- Match date
- October 3
- Match venue
- Yuba Bharati Krirangan, also known as Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata
- Cafu's message
- India should stop viewing itself as too small in football and believe it can become a giant
- Cafu's proposal
- Brazil and India could cooperate through coaching, information exchange and football-development efforts
- Bhutia's concern
- Brazil could dominate the match while India spends most of the game defending
- Development examples
- Cafu cited Japan and China as countries that benefited from investment in coaches and knowledge exchange
