Archive · 2 Oct 2026
Bhaichung Bhutia Criticizes India-Brazil Friendly as ‘Circus’
India is playing a football match against Brazil in Kolkata.
Many players and fans would be excited to watch it.
Bhaichung Bhutia says the match may not help Indian football enough in the long run.
He says the football federation may pay about Rs 50–60 crore for Brazil to play.
Bhutia also believes India should not have withdrawn from the ASEAN Cup.
That tournament would have given Indian players at least three competitive games.
He says India could learn more by working with Brazilian coaches and players.
He pointed to Japan’s use of Brazilian football expertise as an example.
Brazil is ranked much higher than India, according to the article.
Bhaichung Bhutia questioned the logic of India paying an estimated Rs 50–60 crore for a Brazil friendly.
He said the match benefits players and fans but does little for India’s long-term football development.
Bhutia criticized the decision to withdraw India from the competitive ASEAN Cup tournament.
India recently drew 1–1 with Panama and is scheduled to face Brazil and Uruguay in Kolkata.
He argued India should seek Brazilian coaching and player-development expertise, citing Japan’s example.
- Who
- Former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia criticized the All India Football Federation’s decision to arrange the match; India and Brazil are the teams involved.
- What
- India is hosting a high-profile football friendly against Brazil, which Bhutia called illogical and a “circus.”
- When
- Bhutia made the comments one day before the scheduled match; the article also references Brazil training on Friday and an upcoming Uruguay match on Tuesday.
- Where
- The match is scheduled at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, India.
- Why
- Bhutia believes the money and attention would be better used for competitive matches and long-term football development.
Long-Term Development Concerns
Player and Fan Opportunity
Value of the Brazil match
Long-Term Development Concerns
Bhaichung Bhutia says paying the reported Rs 50–60 crore for a friendly is illogical when clubs and the federation face financial difficulties.
Player and Fan Opportunity
The match gives Indian players the opportunity to face Brazil and gives fans a major football spectacle.
Competitive tournament versus friendly
Long-Term Development Concerns
Bhutia says India should have played in the ASEAN Cup, where the team could have gained at least three competitive matches against closer-ranked opponents.
Player and Fan Opportunity
The Brazil fixture was retained as one of several high-profile matches India is hosting, although the article does not give a detailed federation defense of withdrawing from the ASEAN Cup.
How to use Brazilian football
Long-Term Development Concerns
Bhutia argues India should collaborate with Brazilian coaches and players to build football expertise over time, rather than only host a costly friendly.
Player and Fan Opportunity
The friendly itself provides an immediate opportunity for Indian players and supporters to engage with Brazil’s football team.
- Estimated reported fee
- Rs 50–60 crore, according to Bhutia
- Recent India result
- India drew 1–1 with Panama in Bengaluru
- India’s FIFA ranking
- 138, according to the article
- Brazil’s FIFA ranking
- Sixth, according to the article
- Withdrawn tournament
- The ASEAN Cup
- Upcoming opponents
- Brazil, followed by two-time World Cup champions Uruguay
- Bhutia’s AIFF role
- Co-opted member of the All India Football Federation executive committee