Ancelotti praises Indian football ahead of Brazil’s Kolkata clash

Brazil national team coach Carlo Ancelotti praised Indian football and spoke to a packed media conference in Kolkata on Friday ahead of his side’s match against India, saying he hoped it would be an entertaining night for fans at the stadium.

Ancelotti was photographed exchanging pleasantries with his Indian counterpart Khalid Jamil in Kolkata on Friday (Photo Credit: K.R. DEEPAK), and he told reporters that India’s passion for the sport was encouraging. “It is an honour for us to be here with the national team. We know what it means to be involved with the national team, not just in football,” Ancelotti told a packed media conference. He said Brazil were happy to visit and to compete in the fixture against India.

At the conference Ancelotti reiterated Brazil’s intent for the encounter, saying: “We are happy to be here, to play against India and to show the quality of our players. We hope it will be an entertaining night for everyone at the stadium.”

The Italian coach also voiced support for India’s long-term ambitions in the sport, commenting on the prospect of a major tournament on Indian soil. “The possibility of a World Cup in India would be fantastic. India is trying to compete in football as well, and I hope they can have a happy future in the sport,” he said.

Ancelotti added that the match would help Brazil continue rebuilding as it begins a new cycle.

Brazil will face India in Kolkata on Friday, a fixture Ancelotti framed as part of Brazil’s wider rebuilding process as the national side begins a new cycle.