India vs Brazil – How did the five-time world champion agree to come to play in Kolkata?

This window marks another first for India: it is playing teams whose previous international window was the FIFA World Cup. | Photo Credit: K Murali Kumar/Getty Images

India vs Brazil — a team ranked 138th in the world against the five-time world champion — sounded like a joke to many when it was first proposed. India’s forward Ryan Williams was one of them. 

“I thought it was fake, to be honest (laughs). Then it came out on Brazil’s social media, and I believed it,” he told Sportstar in an interview. “It’s an amazing, amazing occasion for me and all footballers.”

India, after a 1-1 draw with Panama last week, will play not one but two former world champions, Brazil and — the first-ever men’s senior international between the Blue Tigers and the Seleção — Uruguay, in Kolkata this week, on October 3 and 6, respectively. 

This window marks another first for India: it is playing teams whose previous international window was the FIFA World Cup.

Da Austrália para a Índia

A agenda da Seleção Brasileira continua.

Depois dos amistosos na Austrália, nosso próximo destino será a Índia, onde escreveremos um capítulo inédito da nossa história.

No dia 3 de outubro, a Seleção entrará em campo pela primeira vez em solo… pic.twitter.com/UNbhtNU3we

— brasil (@CBF_Futebol) July 30, 2026

But plans for these high-profile friendlies were in the works long before the quadrennial showpiece, reveals Anuj Kichlu, the CEO of Best of You Sports South Asia, the agency that arranged the three friendlies in September and October.

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“There was an ambition for India to play high-level opposition, something that has been discussed for many years. We were forced to look for the right kind of teams, and obviously, Brazil was one of the teams which people in India looked forward to seeing in action,” he tells this publication.

“Because of their popularity here, plus their high ranking, plus being the five-time world champions, we chose their team five months back. Then we started our discussions, which involved a lot of calls to the Federation.”

Now or Never

For India, playing Brazil is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. But for the five-time world champion, it offered very little: limited Elo (ranking) points, since it is playing a very lowly-ranked team, and travelling 15,000 kilometres for one match for that.

The timing and other logistics played a key role in ensuring the trip happened.

“The (Brazilian) federation has a particular calendar, and they have motivation to play certain ranked opponents, which the coach has to approve,” Kichlu explains.

“I think because the World Cup is done, they are starting a new cycle towards the next World Cup. They don’t have any more FIFA dates up to the next World Cup available. So, either you play now, or you don’t play at all.”

Brazil planned on playing three international friendlies in the September-October window, two of which were with Australia. And Best of You Sports saw just the opportunity it was looking for.

For India, playing Brazil is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. But for the five-time world champion, it offered very little: limited Elo (ranking) points, since it is playing a very lowly-ranked team, and travelling 15,000 kilometres for one match for that. | Photo Credit: Getty Images

“It was part of the Asia tour, so it fit in well. We also had to have some discussions with the Australian Federation and put it together: where they go to play, then play here and then go back to Europe and South America,” he says.

The financials followed. 

“We don’t actually disclose the exact monetary figures, but there is a standard amount that Brazil charges for in almost every country they play. On their home soil, they earn about $5 million a match, including their different avenues: sponsorship, broadcast, ticketing,” Kichlu explains.

“They look at recovering the same amount when they play abroad. I think India has been a bit cheaper than the rest of the world because it’s part of a three-match series. It’s not a one-off match that they are playing against each other.”

Brazil played out a 1-1 draw and a 4-2 win against the Socceroos in Queensland and Brisbane and will reach Kolkata tonight.

Plans on Uruguay and Panama

Kichlu’s firm also followed plans to bring in other high-profile teams, and Uruguay fit the bill well, as it was also on its Asia Tour. 

“Uruguay, to go to normal countries, typically charges about $2 million. But we got them at a significantly cheaper fee because they have just played two matches in Japan and Korea,” he says.

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Uruguay lost 1-3 to Japan in Rifu, while La Celeste, now under new head coach Diego Forlan, bounced back against the Koreans with a 4-1 victory in Seoul. They arrived in the city on September 30 and will take their time to acclimatise to the conditions before their match on October 6.

Meanwhile, Panama, the weakest of the three teams on paper, was the last to be confirmed.

Ryan Williams was on target to help India draw 1-1 with Panama. | Photo Credit: K Murali Kumar

“Panama was much later because we needed to see how they play in the World Cup and what the level of competition is. Obviously, that was the easiest of the three matches compared to the others. To prepare the (India) team and have a warm-up kind of match was the first objective,” Kichlu said.

He added that Panama’s charges to play were lower than the two heavyweights and that all payments to the ‘Los Canaleros’ have been completed, and any reports suggesting otherwise are just rumours.

“Complete rumours. Must be from someone trying to create a kind of story. But nothing from our side. We have been managing the payment, and there were no issues at all. Certain payments go before the match, and certain ones after the match,” he clarifies.

More high-profile clashes on the cards?

India will travel to New Zealand in its next international window, playing another team that featured in the World Cup, playing the host in Auckland on November 12 and in Christchurch three days later. And Kichlu maintains that India’s matches with high-profile opponents could slowly become a regular feature.

“We do have plans to have at least one or two big matches a year, and we plan at least six months in advance. There won’t be anything before next year,” he says. “Our company has been in touch with every federation in the world.”

India will travel to New Zealand in its next international window, playing another team that featured in the World Cup, playing the host in Auckland on November 12 and in Christchurch three days later. | Photo Credit: AIFF Media

But the immediate focus remains on the India versus Brazil match – one that could lure other big teams into the country.

“If there’s any kind of incident in the match, it becomes a problem, and then it’s very difficult to get teams to India. As it is, we are not on the footballing map for the big nations. So, it takes a lot of convincing to get these teams to India. We are lucky to get these teams to India,” he says.

Published on Oct 01, 2026

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