KOLKATA, Sep 2: Football fans in Kolkata have responded enthusiastically to India’s upcoming international friendly against Brazil, with tickets for the highly anticipated October 3 encounter selling rapidly.
The match at Salt Lake Stadium will bring the five-time world champions to Indian soil for a high-profile international fixture. Reports on Wednesday said much of the ticket inventory was sold shortly after sales opened.
India head coach Khalid Jamil has described the forthcoming fixtures against Brazil and Uruguay as an important opportunity for Indian footballers to test themselves against elite opposition.
India are scheduled to face Panama on September 26 before meeting Brazil on October 3 and Uruguay on October 6. The demanding sequence is expected to provide valuable exposure ahead of future international assignments.
The Brazil fixture has generated particularly strong interest because of the stature of the visiting side and the possibility of several leading Brazilian players featuring in the contest.
For India, the match represents more than a high-profile friendly. Jamil believes encounters against top-ranked opponents can help the national side gain experience, raise confidence and improve its competitiveness on the international stage.
With strong ticket demand already evident, the Kolkata fixture is shaping up as one of India’s most closely watched football matches of the year.