Archive · 2 Oct 2026
Brazil Memo Urges Kolkata Match-Day Overhaul Before India Friendly
Brazil’s football team was scheduled to play India in Kolkata on October 3.
Before arriving, Brazilian officials reviewed plans for the match.
They said the organizers needed to improve coordination, safety and communication.
They wanted named people responsible for each part of the event.
They also asked for a clear plan for emergencies and stadium evacuation.
The Brazilian delegation was worried about the condition of the football pitch.
The pitch was later repaired for nearly a month under the supervision of Ivan Nascimento.
Brazil was scheduled to train at the stadium and attend a dinner with the chief minister and governor.
India was also preparing to play Uruguay after the Brazil match.
A Brazilian delegation identified urgent shortcomings in match coordination, security, emergency planning and communication.
Brazil requested a working group with named officials and a joint emergency plan for the October 3 match.
The delegation raised concerns about the Salt Lake Stadium pitch and sought strict limits on pitch access.
The pitch underwent nearly a month of restoration supervised by Brazilian turf expert Ivan Nascimento.
Brazil’s itinerary included training on October 2 and a dinner with the chief minister and governor before the match.
- Who
- Brazil’s football delegation, India’s national team and Kolkata’s match organizers.
- What
- Brazil requested organizational, safety, pitch and communication improvements for its October 3 friendly against India.
- When
- The memo was sent more than a month before the October 3 match; Brazil was scheduled to train on October 2.
- Where
- The match was scheduled for the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata, India.
- Why
- The delegation said improvements were urgently needed to coordinate the match, manage emergencies, protect the pitch and control public communication.
- Match
- India versus Brazil international friendly
- Match date
- October 3
- Venue
- Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata
- Brazil training
- October 2 at 4 p.m. on the stadium’s main pitch
- Pitch work
- Nearly one month of restoration supervised by Ivan Nascimento
- Brazil itinerary
- A team dinner with the chief minister and governor was scheduled for October 2
- Related fixture
- India was also scheduled to play Uruguay