F’ball: India drops ASEAN Cup to face Brazil in high-stakes friendly
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New Delhi: India has withdrawn from the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup, choosing instead to prioritise a high-profile friendly against five-time world champions Brazil in Kolkata, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has confirmed.
The Brazil clash is scheduled for October at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium, but its dates overlap with the ASEAN Cup, forcing India to pull out of the tournament. The competition falls within the September 21–October 6 FIFA international window.
India had been invited by FIFA as a guest team from outside the ASEAN region and was placed in a group alongside Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. However, the AIFF has opted to seize the rare opportunity to face Brazil rather than participate in the new regional tournament.
The decision comes as a significant setback for India’s preparation, particularly after the national team failed to qualify for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup. The ASEAN Cup could have provided valuable competitive exposure against international opposition, but the Brazil fixture offers an even bigger stage and a chance to test India against elite competition.
Despite withdrawing from the ASEAN tournament, the AIFF is planning to use the same international window to arrange additional friendly matches against other World Cup-qualified teams.
The Brazil match is therefore being viewed as a major opportunity for Indian football, even as the ASEAN Cup withdrawal leaves the national side without a tournament appearance during the period.