India withdraws from ASEAN Cup 2026 at Kolkata Salt Lake Stadium; scheduling clash with Brazil friendly on Oct 3

India withdraw from ASEAN Cup 2026 to prioritise Brazil football friendly in October

The friendly against Brazil at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium, confirmed last month, created a scheduling conflict with the ASEAN Cup, resulting in India’s withdrawal.

The Indian football team has withdrawn from the ASEAN Cup 2026 to prioritise its international friendly against Brazil in October, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) confirmed on Thursday.

“We have pulled out of the FIFA ASEAN Cup since we can’t play both Brazil and FIFA ASEAN Cup ,” AIFF’s deputy secretary general M Satyanarayanan told PTI.

The Blue Tigers were initially set to participate in the FIFA ASEAN Cup, an international competition launched by FIFA for teams from the ASEAN region, with 2026 being the inaugural edition. India were invited as one of the non-ASEAN participants.

India had been drawn in Division 1, Group A alongside higher-ranked football nations Indonesia and Malaysia as well as Singapore.

The tournament was scheduled to take place from September 21 to October 6, coinciding with the first FIFA international window of the traditional season.

However, India’s friendly against five-time FIFA World Cup champions Brazil on October 3 at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium, confirmed last month, created a scheduling conflict.

Brazil, currently No. 5 in the world, will be the highest-ranked opponent India have faced in men’s international football since the FIFA World Ranking system was introduced in 1992.

The AIFF, India’s football governing body, had earlier explored the possibility of sending a separate squad to the ASEAN Cup but has now opted to withdraw from the tournament altogether.

Following the withdrawal, India are now exploring friendlies against teams that featured at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.