Kolkata: Former Indian cricket team and former president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Sourav Ganguly said India’s upcoming international friendlies involving FIFA World Cup playing nations like Brazil, Uruguay, and Panama present a valuable opportunity for Indian football players to compete against stronger international opponents if the game is to progress.
With teams such as Brazil, Uruguay and Panama set to come to India, Sourav Ganguly described the opportunity as a significant step towards giving Indian footballers much-needed exposure at the highest level.
For someone who spent more than a decade representing India against the best teams in world cricket and later played a key role in shaping Indian cricket administration, Sourav Ganguly believes regular competition against superior opponents is crucial for a team’s development.
“It’s good. Why wouldn’t it be good to play football against big teams?” Sourav Ganguly said when asked about the importance of such international fixtures for Indian football.
However, the former India captain stressed that exposure to top teams should not remain limited to occasional matches or special events. According to him, Indian players need consistent opportunities throughout the year to test themselves against stronger opposition.
“This needs to happen throughout the year so that players get proper exposure. I always believe that playing against teams better than yourself helps improve your own game”, he said.
Drawing a comparison with Indian cricket, Sourav Ganguly pointed to the importance of regularly competing against world-class opposition. Indian cricket’s growth, he believes, has been shaped by the constant challenge of playing leading teams across different conditions and formats.
“Look at cricket, they play against top-quality teams all year round, which is why they get better. The same approach needs to be applied here” , he said.
The former captain also expressed hope that the All India Football Federation would continue on creating a stronger and more consistent international calendar for Indian football.
Coming from one of Indian sport’s most respected voices, Sourav Ganguly’s message carries particular weight. His belief is simple: Indian footballers can only raise their standards when they are regularly challenged by the best. Though he emphasises that this type of exposure needs to become a regular part of India’s footballing journey, Sourav Ganguly views the visits of footballing powerhouses and former World Cup champions like Brazil and Uruguay as valuable opportunities.
Indian Men’s Senior Football Team upcoming International Friendly schedule :
India vs. Panama: September 26, 2026 (Bengaluru)
India vs. Brazil: October 3, 2026 (Salt Lake Stadium , Kolkata)
India vs. Uruguay: October 6, 2026 (Salt Lake Stadium , Kolkata).
