Ancelotti says India lacks a football culture ahead of Brazil friendly in Kolkata
Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti said India does not have a football culture while speaking from Brisbane ahead of Brazil’s friendly with India in Kolkata on October 3. He also said he was excited to visit Kolkata.
India will play three international friendlies starting September 25, facing Panama, Brazil and Uruguay, with the Brazil and Uruguay matches scheduled to take place in the Bengal capital. Speaking ahead of the fixtures, Ancelotti said it was important for Brazil to learn about other footballing cultures. "We have to see other nations, other cultures," he told Times of India.
Ancelotti, the former Real Madrid manager, added that India have limited experience against world-class opponents and that the friendlies offer an opportunity to assess each other. "It’s true that India does not have a good experience (of playing world class opponents), but it’s important for us to know how they play. I’ve never been to India. I am very excited to come to Kolkata," Ancelotti told Times of India.
He went on to attribute the situation to culture and to the need for long-term work on player development. "I think it’s a problem of culture. India does not have a culture of football, but they are good in other sports. You have to work on this to build a new generation of players," he added.
India’s recent results underline the challenges Ancelotti described: the national team was eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying race in June 2024 after a 2-1 defeat to Qatar that ended hopes of reaching the third round. The side then failed to qualify for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, finishing Group C with five points from six matches; their only win was a 2-1 victory over Hong Kong while Singapore secured the group's sole qualifying spot.
The latest official FIFA ranking, published on July 20, 2026, placed India 138th, below their highest-ever position of 94th. Reuters has reported that young Indian players receive far fewer competitive matches than counterparts in countries such as Japan and South Korea, and that several states lack proper youth leagues and qualified coaches.
Uncertainty has also affected the Indian Super League since the All India Football Federation's commercial partnership with Reliance ended in 2025; the league has not finalised its fixtures or a broadcaster for the new season and Jamshedpur FC's exit has underlined the difficulties facing clubs. For a country that continues to produce pockets of strong footballing interest, the challenge is turning that interest into a sustainable football culture and a system capable of producing players consistently.
India's next match is against Panama on September 25, followed by Brazil in Kolkata on October 3 and Uruguay in the Bengal capital. Ancelotti said the series will allow Brazil to observe how India play and to experience a different footballing culture.
