Bengal CM Suvendu Assures Full Support For India-Brazil Match: AIFF Chief

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has assured the All India Football Federation (AIFF) of full government support for India's historic international football fixture against Brazil, AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey said. The match, scheduled to be played in Kolkata on October 3, will mark one of the biggest football events hosted in India, with the national team set to face five-time FIFA World Cup champions Brazil. The assurance comes amid concerns over crowd management following chaotic scenes during Lionel Messi's visit to Kolkata in December last year. However, Chaubey said organising a FIFA international match is significantly different from hosting an individual celebrity appearance, as such fixtures are conducted under strict FIFA and Asian Football Confederation (AFC) protocols.

He added that multiple departments would be involved to ensure proper planning, security and execution of the event. "I met the Honourable Chief Minister a few days ago. I briefed him about the SOPs and the requirements to host a match of this stature. He assured me that several departments and ministries from the Government of West Bengal will assist and cooperate to ensure AIFF organises this match well and according to FIFA protocol," Chaubey told PTI. Brazil, currently ranked fifth in the FIFA World Rankings, will become the highest-ranked team ever to play an international fixture against India on Indian soil. India, placed 138th in the world rankings, has never hosted a top-five FIFA-ranked nation in an official international match.

Chaubey described the fixture as an opportunity to showcase Kolkata's rich football culture and India's growing ambitions in the sport. The AIFF president said the match would provide invaluable experience to the Indian team, regardless of the result. He explained that facing stronger opponents would help players understand their strengths, identify weaknesses and improve their overall competitiveness. Chaubey pointed to India's recent international schedule, which has included matches against teams such as Australia, Iran, Malaysia and Madagascar, as part of efforts to raise the standard of competition.

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Chaubey also highlighted the challenge of convincing top football nations to play against India due to the country's current FIFA ranking. He said arranging a match against Brazil required significant effort and planning but was important for the long-term development of Indian football. According to him, India's large population, young demographic profile and economic growth give the country a major role in global football, and stronger international exposure is essential for progress. The AIFF chief said India needed to move beyond regional dominance and regularly compete against higher-ranked teams. He pointed out that India has won nine of the last 10 editions of the SAFF Championship, making it necessary to seek tougher challenges.

Playing against elite opponents, he said, would help accelerate the development of Indian players and improve the national team's standards. Chaubey added that while football legends such as Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi have visited India in the past, the country has rarely witnessed its national team compete against a top-ranked footballing nation. Apart from historic club exhibitions involving global stars, India has not hosted a fixture of this magnitude. He described the upcoming Brazil match as a landmark moment for Indian football and an opportunity to place Kolkata and the country on the global football map.

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