India Withdraws from FIFA ASEAN Cup to Focus on Brazil Friendly

India has announced its withdrawal from the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup to prioritize an international friendly match against Brazil, scheduled for October 3 in Kolkata. The decision was confirmed by M Satyanarayanan, deputy secretary general of the All India Football Federation (AIFF).

The ASEAN Cup, which India was invited to participate in as a team from outside the region, is set to take place during the FIFA international window from September 21 to October 6. India was drawn in Division 1 Group A alongside Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore.

Initially, the AIFF considered sending a separate squad to the ASEAN Cup while the senior team prepared for the Brazil match. However, they ultimately decided to withdraw from the tournament, which means India will miss the opportunity to compete against some of Southeast Asia's top teams in a FIFA-sanctioned event.