The All India Football Federation (AIFF) also plans to arrange two additional matches against strong opponents during the upcoming FIFA international window.
The AIFF announced the national team’s withdrawal from the FIFA ASEAN Cup on Wednesday. The inaugural edition features Southeast Asian teams alongside invited guests from outside the region. This decision was primarily driven by a scheduling conflict with a highly anticipated friendly match against Brazil in Kolkata on Oct. 3.
“We are unable to participate in the FIFA ASEAN Cup due to our commitment with the Brazil football federation,” AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey told Times of India late on Wednesday. “We have informed FIFA and officials are aware of why we were forced to take this decision.”
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Forward Nguyen Van Toan (in red) during Vietnam’s friendly match against India at Thien Truong Stadium on Oct. 12, 2024. Photo by Read/Lam Thoa |
The 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup is scheduled to take place from Sept. 24 to Oct. 4 during FIFA Days. India had been drawn into Group A of Tier 1 alongside hosts Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. The Tier 1 final is slated for Oct. 3, which coincides with India’s match against Brazil.
According to Indian media, the AIFF spent approximately $7 million to invite Brazil. The contract stated that the South American powerhouse must field their strongest possible squad in this friendly.
This commitment forced the AIFF to make a tough choice. Chaubey noted that teams can play a maximum of four matches during that specific FIFA window. Participating in the FIFA ASEAN Cup, and potentially advancing deep into the tournament, would have made it difficult for India to prepare for the Brazil match, which is viewed as a milestone for the country’s football scene.
“Playing Brazil is perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Indian players,” Chaubey added.
Brazil are the most successful team in World Cup history with five titles. The AIFF views their agreement to play in India as a rare chance to promote football and generate interest among local fans.
While Brazil is the only confirmed friendly for India during the upcoming FIFA international break, the AIFF is actively seeking two additional high-quality opponents. Chaubey stated that these potential opponents are ranked higher than India, but he declined to reveal their names as negotiations remain confidential.
“The ASEAN Cup is an important competition and raised lot of interest. We will miss that, but we will make the best use of this FIFA international window that India can play two more friendly matches against quality opponents, teams who are much higher ranked than India. We can learn a lot from such tough matches,” Chaubey said.
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Local fans watch the Argentina-Algeria match in Group J of the 2026 World Cup on a screen in Kolkata, India, on June 17, 2026. Photo by Reuters |
India were one of four invited teams for the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup, alongside Hong Kong, Pakistan, China, the latter also withdrawing last month. Their withdrawal has prompted adjustments to the tournament’s overall group structure and match schedule.
Vietnam are in Group B of Tier 1, alongside Pakistan, Thailand and the Philippines. Based on the July 2026 FIFA rankings, Vietnam hold the second-highest ranking in the tournament at 99th place, trailing only Thailand (94th). India currently rank 138th, behind Indonesia (118th), the Philippines (135th) and Malaysia (136th).
This late withdrawal could potentially make the AIFF face sanctions from FIFA. Under FIFA ASEAN Cup regulations, a member association that withdraws from the tournament no later than 30 days before the opening match could face a fine of at least 15,000 Swiss francs (US$18,000).
The AIFF believes India can avoid the penalty after thoroughly explaining the unique circumstances to FIFA. Federation officials have sent a detailed email to FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom, specifically citing reasons related to the match schedule and the commitment made to the Brazilian Football Confederation.