The eagerly awaited fixture finally happened, but not in the favour of the host country. India produced a spirited early display which is well praised by the fans, but ultimately proved no match for five-time World Cup champions Brazil, suffering a 0-4 defeat in a FIFA international friendly at the Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday.
The result marked the first senior men’s international encounter between the two nations and delivered a reality check for the hosts in front of a raucous crowd of more than 51,000. Chelsea’s Estevao Willian, striker Pedro and a second-half brace by substitute Samuel Lino secured a comfortable victory for Carlo Ancelotti’s side. Brazil controlled large stretches of the match after a competitive opening half-hour.
India suffer 4-0 loss to Brazil, two-time World Cup champions Uruguay next; here is all you need to know
Coach Khalid Jamil’s side set out to frustrate the visitors, packing the midfield and attempting to spring counters through Manvir Singh. For the opening 27 minutes, the plan worked surprisingly well. However, it wasn't enough to beat the five-time World Cup winners. Brazil dominated possession but found clear-cut chances hard to come by. India’s defence, marshalled with determination, and goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu kept the five-time world champions at bay.
The breakthrough arrived in the 28th minute when Estevao cut inside from the right, created a yard of space and drove a powerful left-footed shot towards the near post. Gurpreet got a hand to the ball but could not keep it out. Brazil grew in confidence, and eight minutes before the interval, Estevao, the English Premier League player turned provider, slid a precise through ball for Pedro to finish low past the Indian goalkeeper and make it 2-0.
The half-time near misses proved costly for India
At half-time, Jamil made changes, including the introduction of Prabhsukhan Singh Gill in goal for his senior debut. Manvir Singh forced a sharp save, while Ryan Williams saw a goal-bound effort cleared off the line, and those near misses proved costly. In the 58th minute, a loose pass out of defence gifted possession to Samuel Lino. The Flamengo winger curled a fine finish into the far corner for 3-0, putting extra pressure on the hosts.
Vinicius Junior, the Real Madrid star who received the loudest cheers of the night whenever he touched the ball, was largely kept quiet by India’s disciplined offside trap early on but still posed a constant threat. As the match entered stoppage time and Indian legs tired, Lino produced the final flourish as he drove into the box, went past defenders and rifled a low shot past Gill in the 95th minute to complete his brace and seal a 4-0 scoreline.
The result was never truly in doubt once Brazil found their rhythm, yet the occasion itself carried genuine significance. This was Brazil’s first senior international match on Indian soil and India’s first against the South American giants. Ancelotti used the fixture as another opportunity to experiment with his squad in the early phase of a new cycle following Brazil’s 2026 World Cup campaign.
The Italian coach rotated heavily, giving minutes to emerging talents and fringe players. Estevao’s goal and assist, combined with Lino’s first two international strikes, will have pleased the coaching staff. The visitors depart India with two wins and a draw from their recent tour of Australia and the subcontinent.
India to face two-time FIFA World Cup winners, Uruguay, next
Meanwhile, the Indian team still has a chance to grab a big win, this time against the two-time FIFA World Cup champions. On 6 October, they face Uruguay, another formidable South American opponent, again in Kolkata. The short turnaround leaves little time for recovery, but the Uruguay fixture offers another chance to test themselves against high-quality opposition and measure any progress from the Brazil experience.
The Blue Tigers will hope the lessons learned against the Selecao translate into sharper performances in the months ahead as they continue their journey on the international stage. Meanwhile, ahead of the clash, here is all you need to know.
When is India vs Uruguay?
The friendly match between India and Uruguay is scheduled for Tuesday, October 6 at 7:30 PM IST.
Free India vs Uruguay tickets for fans who missed the Messi Tour event
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has announced free tickets for the friendly match between India and Uruguay on October 6. The visit ended up being chaotic in Kolkata last year, and fans were not even able to get a glimpse of the World Cup winner.
The organisers were criticised heavily as the fans were unable to watch the Inter Miami superstar. They protested and even broke the chairs. Meanwhile, to cover up that mess-up so far, the government of Bengal has announced free tickets for the victims.
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