India Withdraws from Inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup to Host Brazil Friendly
AM730 · 1 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
The inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup, set to take place in Hong Kong and Indonesia next month, has suffered another withdrawal as India confirmed it will not participate. The decision comes after the All India Football Federation (AIFF) secured a lucrative friendly against Brazil, scheduled for October 3 in Kolkata. India reportedly invested $7 million USD to attract the South American giants, with the match serving as preparation for the upcoming Asian Cup. India FA Chairman Kalyan Chaubey described the opportunity to face Brazil as a "once-in-a-lifetime" experience for Indian players. The withdrawal, made well in advance of FIFA's 30-day penalty threshold, is expected to avoid the $17,000 fine that would otherwise apply.
Key Points
- India withdraws from FIFA ASEAN Cup to host Brazil on October 3 in Kolkata
- AIFF reportedly paid $7 million USD to secure the Brazil friendly
- India was seeded in Group A of the Super Group alongside Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore
- The ASEAN Cup is scheduled for the September 24 to October 4 international window
- FIFA originally invited India, China, and Hong Kong; China declined and Pakistan was called up
Why It Matters
India's withdrawal highlights the growing financial divide in Asian football, where wealthy national federations can afford to bypass regional tournaments for higher-profile matches. For Hong Kong, which is hosting the Challenge Group of the tournament, the continued withdrawals from invited teams underscore the challenges FIFA faces in establishing new competitions in the region. The instability in the tournament's participant list may affect ticket sales and broadcast deals for the inaugural edition.
India's withdrawal highlights the growing financial divide in Asian football, where wealthy national federations can afford to bypass regional tournaments for higher-profile matches. For Hong Kong, which is hosting the Challenge Group of the tournament, the continued withdrawals from invited teams underscore the challenges FIFA faces in establishing new competitions in the region. The instability in the tournament's participant list may affect ticket sales and broadcast deals for the inaugural edition.