Brazil has announced its 26-member squad for the upcoming international friendlies. Several of their biggest stars will travel to India for a historic match in Kolkata. Real Madrid forwards Vinicius Junior and Endrick, along with Barcelona star Raphinha, headline the Brazil squad for India football friendly 2026.

Five-time FIFA World Cup champions Brazil will play India at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK) in Kolkata on October 3. This will be the first senior men’s international match between India and Brazil. This makes the game even more special for Indian football fans.

Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti has picked a strong squad for the new cycle after the FIFA World Cup 2026. Brazil currently ranks fifth in the FIFA men’s world rankings. India ranks 138th.

Ancelotti said these three friendlies will help Brazil prepare for their future goals. These goals include the 2028 Copa America and the 2030 World Cup.

Brazil stars set to arrive in Kolkata

Vinicius Junior will be one of the biggest attractions for Indian football fans. The Real Madrid forward remains one of the top attacking players in world football. His club teammate Endrick will also travel with him.

Raphinha adds more quality in attack for Brazil. He has also enjoyed a strong spell with Barcelona.

Chelsea youngsters Estevao and Joao Pedro have also made the squad. Bournemouth forward Rayan and Flamengo forwards Pedro and Samuel Lino are also part of the attack.

The midfield includes Bruno Guimaraes, who joined Arsenal in August. Andrey Santos, Breno Bidon, Danilo Santos, Douglas Luiz and Gabriel Bontempo are the other midfield options.

Brazil also has strong defensive options. Experienced players such as Marquinhos and Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes will bring leadership to the team.

Vitor Reis, Jair, Wesley and Mauro Junior are also in the squad.

Only nine players from Brazil’s 26-member World Cup squad remain in the team for the new cycle. Several big names are missing. These include Casemiro, Alisson, Ederson and Weverton.

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Brazil’s India tour schedule

Brazil will not travel directly to Kolkata. The team will first play Australia twice.

Brazil will face Australia in Townsville on September 25. They will play Australia again in Brisbane on September 29.

Brazil are then expected to reach Kolkata on September 30. This will give the team a few days to prepare for the India match.

The India vs Brazil football friendly 2026 will take place on October 3 at the VYBK. The stadium is also known as Salt Lake Stadium.

The match was officially announced on July 30. It has already created huge interest among Indian football fans.

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) also visited the Kolkata stadium on August 20. The officials raised concerns about the uneven pitch.

Brazil then sent a two-member expert team to help improve the turf. This shows how important the playing conditions are for Brazil.

Ticket demand adds to India vs Brazil excitement

The match has already created huge interest before the game. Tickets went on sale through the District app on September 2.

The cheapest tickets reportedly sold out within minutes.

Ticket prices range from Rs 999 to Rs 15,000. VIP tickets are the most expensive option.

The stadium can hold around 67,000 fans. Around 70 percent of the seats are expected to go on sale.

India also pulled out of the first FIFA ASEAN Cup. The team made this decision to focus on the big friendly against Brazil.

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India squad for Brazil, Uruguay and Panama friendlies

India head coach Khalid Jamil has also announced a 26-member squad for the upcoming international window.

Experienced players such as Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Anwar Ali, Akash Mishra, Anirudh Thapa and Sahal Abdul Samad have made the squad.

The forward line includes Manvir Singh, Ryan Williams, Rahim Ali, Vikram Partap Singh, Edmund Lalrindika and Irfan Yadwad.

India’s full squad is:

Goalkeepers: Albino Gomes, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Prabhsukhan Singh Gill, Som Kumar.

Defenders: Abhishek Singh Tekcham, Akash Mishra, Anwar Ali, Bijoy Varghese, Hmingthanmawia Ralte, Jay Gupta, Pramveer, Ricky Meetei Haobam.

Midfielders: Anirudh Thapa, Ashique Kuruniyan, Farukh Choudhary, Lalengmawia Ralte, Macarton Nickson, Mohammed Sanan, Ricky Shabong, Sahal Abdul Samad.

Forwards: Edmund Lalrindika, Irfan Yadwad, Manvir Singh, Rahim Ali, Ryan Williams, Vikram Partap Singh.

Head coach: Khalid Jamil.

India has a busy schedule during this international window.

They will first play Panama in Bengaluru on September 26. They will then travel to Kolkata to face Brazil on October 3.

Three days later, on October 6, India will play Uruguay at the same stadium.

All three teams played at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. They also rank much higher than India in the FIFA rankings.

Brazil ranks fifth. Uruguay ranks 20th. Panama ranks 44th. India ranks 138th.

The Brazil and Panama matches will be India’s first senior men’s games against these countries.

India have played Uruguay once before. India lost that match 3-1 in the 1982 Nehru Cup in Kolkata.

With Vinicius Junior, Raphinha and Endrick leading a star-filled Brazil squad, the October 3 match could become one of the biggest football games ever played in India.

What are your predictions for the India vs Brazil friendly football game? Let us know in the comments. 

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