'There is never a friendly game,' says Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti ahead of Kolkata clash against India

Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti has said the five-time world champions will take next week's friendly against India seriously, insisting there is "never a friendly game" for the Brazilian national team.Brazil, ranked fifth in the FIFA rankings, will face India in Kolkata on October 3 in their first senior men's international in the country. The match will give Indian fans a chance to watch a full-strength Brazil team featuring stars such as Vinicius Junior.Speaking ahead of the tour, Ancelotti said Brazil's support extends across the world and that the team is looking forward to playing in India."Brazil has supporters in every corner of the world," Ancelotti said in an exclusive interview with The Times of India.Read full interview here"It's a pleasure for us to play in India, not just for the Brazilian supporters, but also those in India."The 67-year-old said that even though the fixture is officially a friendly, Brazil's approach will remain the same."It's a preparatory game, a friendly, but for us, there is never a friendly game," Ancelotti said.India are ranked 138th in the world by FIFA and have never qualified for a men's World Cup. Football, however, continues to enjoy a strong following in cities such as Kolkata and Kochi.Ancelotti said the match would also give Brazil an opportunity to experience a different football culture."We have to see other nations, other cultures. We are used to playing friendlies with different styles," said the coach, who took charge of Brazil last year."India will be exciting. 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."The Kolkata fixture will be the first time a full-strength Brazilian men's national team plays in India.Brazilian legend Pele visited India in 1977 and again in 2015. Brazil will arrive in India after playing two friendly matches in Australia.Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.