Archive · 7 Aug 2026
Bengal Backs AIFF to Host India-Brazil Football Match in Kolkata
A very big football match is coming to India.
The famous Brazil national team will play India's national team in the city of Kolkata on October 3.
Brazil has won the World Cup five times and is ranked number five in the world.
India is ranked much lower, at 138.
It will be the first time India hosts such a strong team at home.
The leader of Bengal promised to help make the match happen.
Some people were worried about crowd safety after a messy visit by Lionel Messi last year.
The football leaders said this match will be run under strict official safety rules.
The Indian team hopes to learn a lot by playing against such strong players.
Football fans in India are excited about this historic match.
Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari assured the All India Football Federation of full government support to host Brazil in Kolkata on October 3, AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey said.
Brazil is ranked fifth in the FIFA World Rankings while India is at 138th, and India has never hosted a top-five FIFA-ranked nation.
The assurance comes amid concerns over crowd management following chaotic scenes during Lionel Messi's visit to Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium last December.
Chaubey said a FIFA international is different from a celebrity event and will be organised under FIFA and AFC standard operating procedures.
Chaubey said he had previously tried unsuccessfully to arrange matches against Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Australia before finally securing Brazil.
- Who
- AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey, Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari, and the national football teams of India and Brazil.
- What
- Bengal government backing for India's biggest-ever international football fixture against five-time World Cup champions Brazil in Kolkata.
- When
- October 3, during the FIFA international window.
- Where
- Kolkata, India.
- Why
- To give the Indian team exposure against far stronger opponents and help develop Indian football after India's prolonged dominance in South Asian competition.
Concerned observers
AIFF and the Government of Bengal
Crowd management after Messi mayhem
Concerned observers
Concerns were raised over crowd management following chaotic scenes at Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium during Lionel Messi's visit last December.
AIFF and the Government of Bengal
AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey says a FIFA international is different from a celebrity event and will be organised under FIFA and AFC standard operating procedures, with several departments of the Government of Bengal assisting.
- Match
- India vs Brazil FIFA international match
- Date
- October 3
- Venue
- Kolkata
- FIFA rankings
- Brazil 5th, India 138th
- Historic first
- India hosting a top-five FIFA-ranked nation for the first time
- Government support
- Full backing assured by the Government of Bengal
- Prior concern
- Chaos at Salt Lake Stadium during Lionel Messi's visit last December
- Previous top visits
- Pele's Cosmos (1977) and Bayern Munich (2007/08) played in Kolkata, but not against India's national team