Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 03:26am on 22 Aug 2026,Saturday Sports
Brazil’s football authorities have confirmed that the national team will not withdraw from its scheduled friendly against India despite calls for a boycott. The match is set for October 3 at Kolkata’s Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan. Former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia has urged fans to boycott the fixture, questioning the reported ₹50–70 crore expenditure and arguing that the money should instead support grassroots football and infrastructure. However, sources close to the Brazilian Football Confederation said the boycott controversy would not affect the fixture. Brazil officials also inspected the Kolkata stadium and said concerns about the pitch would not alter the match schedule. (PC: Getty Images)
