Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
India have pulled out of the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup, choosing instead to focus on their marquee international friendly against five-time world champions Brazil in October, AIFF deputy secretary general M Satyanarayanan said on Thursday.
The decision means India will miss out on the chance to test themselves against several of Southeast Asia’s top teams in a FIFA-sanctioned tournament.
“We have pulled out of the FIFA ASEAN Cup since we can’t play both Brazil and FIFA ASEAN Cup,” Satyanarayanan told PTI.
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The ASEAN Cup was introduced as a new international competition for teams from the region, with India among the non-ASEAN nations invited to take part. India had initially agreed to participate and were placed in Division 1 Group A alongside Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. The tournament is scheduled to take place during the FIFA international window from September 21 to October 6.
However, India’s confirmed fixture against Brazil on October 3 at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium presented a scheduling challenge.
The AIFF had previously considered sending a separate or developmental squad to compete in the ASEAN Cup while keeping the senior team available for the Brazil fixture. The federation has now decided against that option and will instead use the international window to arrange friendly matches.
The Brazil fixture was officially announced last month and is set to be one of India’s biggest international games in recent years.
India are also reportedly looking at further friendly opportunities during the window. Cabo Verde and Iran have emerged as potential opponents, with both nations having featured at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. However, neither fixture has been formally confirmed by the AIFF so far.
The withdrawal represents a shift from the federation’s earlier plans. India had accepted FIFA’s invitation to compete in the tournament and had also completed the participation agreement before changing course.
The decision comes at a difficult period for Indian football, with the national team having failed to qualify for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup and facing difficulties in consistently arranging matches against strong international opposition.
With Brazil already confirmed, the AIFF now appears intent on maximising the September-October window through high-quality friendly matches rather than committing to the inaugural ASEAN Cup.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
