Carlo Ancelotti Hails Brazil’s Global Fanbase Ahead Of Friendly: 'India Doesn't Have...'

News sports football Carlo Ancelotti Hails Brazil’s Global Fanbase Ahead Of Friendly: 'India Doesn't Have...'

Last Updated:September 23, 2026, 09:17 IST

Carlo Ancelotti has expressed excitement about Brazil’s first-ever senior men’s game in India, describing it as a special occasion for both Brazilian and Indian fans.

Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti has said that the history of his team is very important, adding that it is a pleasure for them to play in India, as a historic India vs Brazil friendly gets closer.

This will be Brazil’s first-ever senior men’s game on Indian soil and marks the highest-ranked opponent, at No. 5 in the world, India have faced since the FIFA rankings were introduced in 1992.

Ancelotti has named a star-studded 26-man team featuring Real Madrid duo Vinicius Junior and Endrick, along with Barcelona’s Raphinha, who will face India.

“Brazil has supporters in every corner of the world. The history of this national team is really important. It’s a pleasure for us to play in India, not just for the Brazilian supporters, but also for those in India," Ancelotti said while speaking to The Times of India.

“It’s a preparatory game, a friendly, but for us, there’s never a friendly game. When you play for the national team, you have to always do your best. We are working on building a new generation of players," Ancelotti added.

The Brazil head coach said that it was important for the team to experience other countries and cultures, adding that they were accustomed to playing friendlies against teams with different styles.

“India will be exciting. Indeed, India does not have much experience playing world-class opponents, but we need to know how they play. I have never been to India," Ancelotti said.

As per him, the lack of a strong football culture remains a major obstacle for India and developing one is crucial to nurturing the next generation of footballers.

“India does not have a culture of football, but they are good in other sports. You have to work on this to build a new generation of players," Ancelotti said.

He added that Brazil have a strong core of footballers such as Marquinhos, Gabriel Magalhaes, Bruno Guimaraes, Raphinha and Vinicius Junior and that they want to build a new group around them by bringing in young footballers.

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