Vikash Dhorasoo to attend India vs Brazil friendly in Kolkata

Vikash Dhorasoo is set to travel to India to attend the India versus Brazil friendly in Kolkata, according to a report published on 2026-09-21. He is expected to be at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan to watch Team India face five-time world champions Brazil.

Dhorasoo is described in the report as an iconic Indian-origin footballer with a history at the FIFA World Cup; there was once intense debate about whether he could ever wear the Indian national team jersey, but he did not. The article says he will now support Indian football in a different role and is expected to be at the Yuva Bharati Krirangan to watch the match. His visit is also framed as an opportunity for discussions about Indian football.

The report notes Dhorasoo became the first player of Indian origin to step onto the field at a FIFA World Cup, featuring in two matches and coming on as a substitute for Zinedine Zidane. It records that he made 18 appearances for France between 1999 and 2006. The World Cup period of his career was documented in the film Substitute.

Substitute, filmed during the tournament using a Super 8 camera, is described as offering a behind-the-scenes look at Dhorasoo’s life on the French team bench. The piece highlights his role within the squad, his interactions with Zidane and coach Raymond Domenech, and his efforts to motivate teammates during limited minutes on the pitch. The report emphasises those documentary scenes as part of his wider profile.

The article states that the influence of OCI (Overseas Citizens of India) footballers is becoming increasingly visible across world football and that the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has been working on a fresh database of Indian-origin footballers playing in top leagues. It suggests such a pool of players could potentially become an important part of the future roadmap of Indian football. Against that backdrop, Dhorasoo’s arrival is presented as adding another dimension to discussions about OCI players.

The report says Dhorasoo will not be on the pitch but will support the Blue Tigers from the stands and is also expected to discuss and explore possible ways forward for Indian football while in India. He is expected to attend the India vs Brazil friendly in Kolkata and support the Indian team from the stands.