Vikash Dhorasoo: Brazil friendly can be a starting point for Indian football

India's upcoming international friendly against Brazil has attracted attention not just for the stature of the visiting side but for the need for a fixture of the kind when the sport is struggling to stay afloat in India.

The men's national team had opted out of the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup in August 2026 to prioritise a string of high-profile friendlies against five-time World champion Brazil and Uruguay. These fixtures were preceded by a tie against Panama in Bengaluru, where India managed to hold the side -- -a team ranked 94 spots above it -- to a 1-1 draw.

Former France international Vikash Dhorasoo believes such high-profile fixtures also have their utility for upcoming systems like India.

"In France, 20 years ago, maybe more, France played against Brazil in a friendly match. It was a great moment for everybody. We were a big team in France, but playing against Brazil is always very special," Dhorsaoo said in a chat with Sportstaron the sidelines of India's friendly clash against the South American giant this weekend.

"When you go to Brazil, it is football that comes to you. A year later, France played against Brazil, this time in the final. You could tell that they had learned a lot and considered themselves differently than they had before. That is a great thing. The inspiration that the French team got from playing Brazil paid off in the final," he added.

Over the last few years, Indian footballers have sporadically found opportunities to feature in foreign leagues, but never really at the top flight level. When asked about this, Dhorasoo took a more optimistic line.

"It is a shame that we don't find any Indian players at that level today, because I have no doubt that gems exist within Indian football. It is always a matter of time, of course, a matter of working, and a matter of having young players playing important games. But to me, there is no doubt that in the coming years we will find great players here," he stated.

Dhorasoo, who has roots in Andhra Pradesh in India, said Indian administrators only need to look at the countless examples the world has to offer for how it should chart the fture for the ecosystem.

"If we look at the dynamics right now, whether it is the youth categories or even the ownership of European clubs, there are perspectives for Indian football. In France, we have the National Technical Directorate of French Football, which thinks a lot about how to train coaches and how to pass that on to the younger generation.

"It is obviously not about taking our project and bringing it to India. It is about how we can bring skills and create exchanges so that everyone can progress together.

"In any case, it takes resources, methods and time, but there are lots of things to do and invent. And, of course, I am also at the service of India if there is a need to help in many ways.," he added.

The 52-year-old underlined that a dearth of talent is not a problem India has.

"I do not doubt that we will find gems here. If you take the example of French football, 20 years ago it was about finding players who would physically dominate the game. It didn't work well, and they changed direction. You can choose the football you want to create, but it takes time. "

In India on invitation from the All India Football Federation, Dhorasoo believes friendlies of the kind scheduled against the two South American nations can help put 'football in the spotlight.'

"I hope the stadium will be full. I hope people will watch the match, be interested in it and want to pass on that interest to their children so they want to go and play football. It can be a starting point for something."

Dhorasoo draws from his own experience.

"Players will learn a lot in 90 minutes playing against Brazil. I played with a lot of Brazilian players, great Brazilian players. Also, Carlo Ancelotti was my coach at AC Milan, so it will be a good moment."

Published on Oct 02, 2026