Brazil have announced a star-studded 26-member squad for their upcoming friendly matches against Australia and India, with Vinicius Jr, Raphinha, Marquinhos and Endrick among the big names included.
The five-time world champions will face Australia on September 25 at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville and again on September 29 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. They will then travel to Kolkata for a historic meeting with India on October 3.
The Brazil-India match will be played at the Salt Lake Stadium at 7:30 pm IST and will be the first-ever senior international meeting between the two countries.
Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti announced the squad on Wednesday at the headquarters of the Brazilian Football Confederation in Rio de Janeiro. Ten players in the squad currently play in Brazilian football, while the rest are based at clubs across Europe and elsewhere.
Vinicius Jr is one of the biggest attractions in the squad. The Real Madrid forward had a strong individual campaign at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, scoring four goals and providing one assist. Brazil, however, were unable to go deep into the tournament and were eliminated by Norway in the pre-quarterfinals after reaching the last 16.
Brazil have not won the World Cup since their 2002 triumph, and the upcoming friendlies will mark the beginning of a new phase under Ancelotti following the tournament.
The squad also features Barcelona forward Raphinha, PSG defender and experienced Brazil international Marquinhos, Real Madrid forward Endrick and Arsenal midfielder Bruno Guimarães. Manchester City defender Vitor Reis, Juventus midfielder Douglas Luiz and Chelsea forwards Stephen and John Peter are also part of the group.
Brazil's visit to India has generated considerable excitement among football fans, particularly with some of the biggest names in world football expected to be involved. The fixture is also significant because it brings one of the game's most successful national teams to Kolkata for the first time in a senior international match against India.
However, the match has also prompted debate among Indian football followers. While many are celebrating the opportunity to watch Brazil in person, others have questioned whether occasional high-profile friendlies can address the deeper problems facing Indian football.
India have never qualified for the FIFA World Cup, while the domestic football structure, including the Indian Super League, has faced criticism over its progress in developing the national team.
For now, though, the focus will be on the historic occasion. With Vinicius Jr, Raphinha, Marquinhos and other global stars in the squad, Brazil's October 3 visit promises to be a major football event for Kolkata.
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