Brazil beat India U-17 3-1 in Bambolim on 13th October, 2016
India’s U-17 side, the Blue Colts, lost 3-1 to the Brazil U-17 Men’s National Football Team at the BRICS U-17 Football Cup at the Athletic Stadium in Bambolim, Goa on 13th October, 2016. That fixture remains the last time India faced Brazil on home soil in any age group.
The Indian men’s football team are set to meet Brazil as part of a packed schedule that includes four different FIFA World Cup 2026 opponents, and several of those teams have recently featured at the World Cup. Vinicius Jr. was among the visitors to India nine years ago to feature in the BRICS U-17 competition. The tournament had been suggested by the AIFF before the start of the FIFA U-17 World Cup to provide more international exposure for player development. Brazil, ranked fifth in the FIFA World ranking, announced a 26-man squad and are due to face India on 3rd October 2026 at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata.
Brazil, who went on to win the BRICS U-17 Cup 2016, opened the scoring through Brenner Silva in the first two minutes when he struck from outside the box. Komal Thatal levelled for India with a goal in the 19th minute that gave the hosts confidence. Santos restored Brazil’s lead in the 30th minute to make it 2-1 at half-time. Vinicius Oliveira added a third for Brazil to give his side a two-goal cushion and effectively seal the contest.
Despite the 3-1 defeat, the Blue Colts were noted in reports for playing a spirited game and showing plenty of character across the full 90 minutes, with many Indian supporters watching the match with pride. The encounter has been described as helping to establish a legacy and renewed interest in the sport within the country. Several players from that Indian group were later cited as contributors to the domestic football ecosystem.
Matchday rosters recorded the following Brazilian names: Leonardo Sulzbach (22), Miranda (3), Matheus Stockl (4), Wesley Gasolina (2), Weverson (6), Bobsin (5), Vitinho (8), Marcos Antônio (18), Vinicius Júnior (11), Léo Chú (7), Brenner (20). The Indian names listed for that match included Mohammad Nawaz (21), Mohamad Rakip (12), Jitendra Singh (3), Sanjeev Stalin (5), Boris Singh Thangjam (2), Suresh Singh Wangjam (6), Amarjit Singh Kiyam (8), Lalengmawia (13), Aniket Anil Jadhav (11), Komal Thatal (10), Aman Chetri (9).
Boris Singh Thangjam, Amarjit Singh, Lalengmawia and Suresh Singh were specifically mentioned as later becoming prominent figures in developing the footballing ecosystem in India. The BRICS U-17 fixture in Bambolim is therefore recalled both for its competitive scoreline and for its role in the careers of several Indian players.
The confirmed next meeting between the countries at senior level is scheduled for 3rd October 2026 at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata; for India it represents a chance to face a team ranked fifth in the FIFA World ranking and to measure themselves against the footballing culture, speed, technical quality and intensity of Brazil.
