Brazil face India in landmark Kolkata friendly

India will welcome football giants Brazil on Saturday in a landmark international friendly at Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium, with excitement building among fans eager to see the five-time world champions in action.

The match will be the first-ever meeting between the senior men's teams. Hosts India, ranked 138th in the world, will face a star-studded Brazil side ranked fifth and featuring Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior, Paris Saint-Germain captain Marquinhos, and Arsenal duo Gabriel Magalhaes and Bruno Guimaraes.

Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti said his team respected India despite the ranking gap. The Italian pointed to India's recent 1-1 draw against Panama and stressed that Brazil never treat any match as merely an exhibition.

"We have full respect for our opponents," Ancelotti told reporters on Friday.

India coach Khalid Jamil acknowledged the challenge but urged his players to embrace the occasion.

"Pressure will be there, but we have to handle that and take responsibility," he said.

The friendly has generated huge interest in football-loving Kolkata, where officials hope the high-profile fixture can boost the sport's popularity in cricket-dominated India.

Brazil are using the match as part of their rebuilding process after a disappointing World Cup campaign, while India see it as a rare opportunity to test themselves against one of football's traditional powerhouses before facing Uruguay in another friendly on 6 October.