BREAKING: Another team to withdraw from FIFA ASEAN Cup after China?

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has confirmed a friendly match against Brazil on October 3, sparking speculation that India might not participate in the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup because of overlapping dates, although no formal decision to withdraw has been made.

The AIFF has announced that the Indian national team will play a friendly against Brazil on October 3, 2026, at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Kolkata). The AIFF considers this match one of the biggest events in the country's football history.

Notably, the friendly with Brazil coincides with the start of the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup (September 24 - October 3). This raises the possibility that India will not take part in the FIFA-organized tournament, even though the AIFF has yet to issue any official statement. If this scenario occurs, India would become the next team to withdraw from the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup, following China.

According to the AIFF's announcement, Brazil—a five-time World Cup champion currently ranked 5th in the FIFA rankings—will be the highest-ranked opponent India has ever faced since the FIFA rankings were introduced in 1992.

AIFF Deputy Secretary General M. Satyanarayan emphasized: "Welcoming a team of Brazil's stature to our country is a special moment. This will undoubtedly become a memorable milestone in the history of Indian football."

Meanwhile, Director of National Teams Subrata Paul also stated that the match against Brazil will hold great significance for Indian players: "For the national team players, this is not just another match. It is a rare opportunity for them to test themselves against one of the greatest football nations the world has ever seen."

The AIFF's prioritization of the friendly against Brazil also raises questions about India's participation in the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup. According to FIFA's previous announcement, India is in Group A of Division 1 alongside Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. Meanwhile, Vietnam is in Group B with Thailand, the Philippines, and Pakistan.

The 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup is the first regional tournament directly managed by FIFA, taking place during the FIFA Days from September 24 to October 3, allowing teams to call up their strongest squads and earn points in the FIFA rankings.

If India indeed withdraws, this would be the first major shake-up of the tournament just before its kickoff. However, as of now, neither FIFA nor the AIFF has confirmed India's withdrawal from the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup, so all information remains speculation based on the published schedule.