Brazil beat India 4-0 in Kolkata as Ancelotti calls match a 'test' and addresses fans
Brazil defeated India 4-0 in an international friendly at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on October 5, 2026, in the first-ever meeting between the two nations. Estevao opened the scoring in the 28th minute, Pedro added a second before half-time and Samuel Lino scored twice in the second half to complete the victory.
The VYBK hosted a match in which Brazil maintained the majority of possession after half-time and India defended resolutely in the opening 30 minutes but failed to convert their chances. The fixture was described in the report as an international friendly and marked the inaugural encounter between the national sides.
Carlo Ancelotti, the 67-year-old Brazil manager, addressed reporters after the game and described the match succinctly: “I think it was a test.” He said the encounter provided opportunities for a wider group of players to be assessed, adding, “Some players could do better, while others did really well, so it was good for them. Of course, it was not an exam, but an opportunity to show their quality.”
Asked about India’s approach, Ancelotti said: “They tried to play their game. They defended it, and they were organised. They tried to play counter-attack, and I think they played a good game.” He also reflected on Brazil’s progress after the opener: “We had difficulty opening the scoring. But when we opened the score with Estevão, we had more opportunities to control and back up the game.”
On his side’s defensive display, Ancelotti commented: “I think we defended well. We could have defended better if we had more opportunities.” He pressed on the need for improvement in some defensive areas, saying: “I think it’s important for us not to settle for a draw. Obviously, we have to improve some of our defence. Yes, obviously, some of the defence mechanisms weren’t perfect, as it was one of the first times that some of the defenders were playing together. They haven’t played together, but it was a great opportunity to start.”
The manager also relayed a message to supporters before ending the press conference: “I think the message to the fans is that we are happy to be here.” He added, “We tried to do our best. We tried to show all the people who love Brazil and love football, to show our best quality. I hope they enjoyed the night.”
Ancelotti noted the match allowed staff to give wider minutes to the squad and to evaluate younger players’ readiness for future national-team inclusion: “Now it’s a moment for us to allow the young to be part of their squad, and for us to know if they have the quality to be part of the national team in the future. So it was a good test.”