India face Brazil on October 3 at Salt Lake Stadium. The match is the first senior meeting between the nations. Brazil are ranked 5th. India are ranked 138th.
This blog is about the players. Who starts. Who sits. Who debuts. Who gets rested.
The confirmed squads are in. The starting XIs are not. Final lineups always change at the last moment. Coaches weigh form, fitness, travel, and tactics. This blog covers the likely XIs and the battles behind them.
India’s Likely XI: The Players Who Start
Khalid Jamil has a settled core. The Panama draw gave him answers.
Goalkeeper: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. The captain. The most experienced option. He started against Panama. He will start against Brazil.
Defence: Akash Mishra, Anwar Ali, Chinglensana Singh Konsham, Jay Gupta. Anwar Ali and Chinglensana anchor the center. Mishra and Gupta provide width. The Panama performance showed the back four can hold against a World Cup side. Jamil ditched the back five he used at the Unity Cup. The new-look back four worked.
Midfield: Anirudh Thapa, Lalengmawia Ralte, Sahal Abdul Samad. Thapa controls. Ralte breaks up play. Samad links. This trio started against Panama. They will start again.
Attack: Manvir Singh, Vikram Partap Singh, Rahim Ali. Manvir leads the line. Vikram provides pace. Rahim supports. Ryan Williams is the wildcard. He scored against Panama. He could start ahead of Rahim Ali.
The Panama performance offered a glimpse of what India can achieve with intensity and discipline. India used a compact defensive block. They relied on clearances and quick transitions. Williams provided an important outlet.
The possible playing XI for India reflects Jamil’s preference for stability. He has used the same back four in consecutive matches. The midfield trio has started together. The attack has rotated. This is the likely shape against Brazil.
Brazil’s Likely XI: Ancelotti’s Choices
Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed one thing. Pedro Morisco starts in goal.
The 22-year-old Coritiba goalkeeper will make his international debut. He played a pivotal role in Coritiba’s Serie B title last season. He kept 17 clean sheets in 30 games. This season has been harder. He has conceded 10 goals in his last three games, including a 5-0 defeat to Vasco da Gama.
Ancelotti is rotating his goalkeepers. Hugo Souza started against Australia in Townsville. Otavio started in Brisbane. Morisco gets India.
Defence: Marquinhos, Gabriel Magalhaes, Douglas Santos, Matheuzinho. Marquinhos leads. Gabriel partners. Santos and Matheuzinho provide width. Wesley was ruled out with a muscle injury. Vanderson replaced him. Vanderson could start at right-back.
Midfield: Bruno Guimaraes, Douglas Luiz, Andrey Santos. Guimaraes controls. Luiz sits. Santos drives forward. This trio started against Australia. Ancelotti may keep them together.
Attack: Vinicius Junior, Endrick, Estevao. Vinicius on the left. Endrick through the middle. Estevao on the right with Raphinha out. Estevao is 19. He is one of eight potential debutants. He could start or come off the bench.
The possible playing XI for Brazil depends on Ancelotti’s rotation plan. He has a long tour. Three matches in two weeks. He will mix experience with youth. The back four and midfield are likely settled. The attack is the question.
The Raphinha Absence: Who Steps In
Raphinha is out with a thigh injury. He wore the No. 10 shirt. He was the captain. He scored 12 goals in seven La Liga appearances this season. His absence opens the door for Estevao, Joao Pedro, or Rayan.
Joao Pedro is also out. He was ruled out with a knee injury. He was replaced by Fluminense midfielder Matheus Martinelli.
Estevao is the likely replacement. The Chelsea winger is 19. He is one of eight potential debutants. He has the talent. He has the pace. He has the confidence. The India match is his chance.
Vinicius Junior remains the main threat. The Real Madrid winger scored four goals at the World Cup. He scored and assisted against Australia. He is the player India fear most.
Endrick leads the line. The Real Madrid striker is 20. His movement and finishing are elite. India’s center-backs must track him.
The Raphinha absence changes Brazil’s shape. He was the creative hub. He linked midfield and attack. His replacement will not replicate that role. Estevao is a direct winger. Vinicius is a direct winger. Endrick is a striker. Brazil may play more vertically without Raphinha.
The Debutants: Eight New Faces
Brazil have eight players in line for debuts.
Pedro Morisco: The goalkeeper. Confirmed to start. Coritiba.
Otavio: The goalkeeper. Cruzeiro. Started against Australia.
Arthur Dias: The center-back. Athletico Paranaense. Compared to Gabriel Magalhaes. Left-footed. Composed on the ball.
Jair Cunha: The center-back. Nottingham Forest. 6’6″. Perfect for a low block.
Matheuzinho: The right-back. Corinthians.
Mauro Junior: The left-back. PSV Eindhoven.
Breno Bidon: The midfielder. Corinthians. 21 years old.
Gabriel Bontempo: The midfielder. Santos. 21 years old.
Some will start. Some will come off the bench. Ancelotti will use the India match to test them.
The debutants matter for the future. Brazil are rebuilding. The 2026 World Cup exit forced a reset. Ancelotti has four years to build a contender. These eight players are part of that plan.
The Battles for Places: India
Left-back: Jay Gupta vs Akash Mishra. Mishra started against Panama. Gupta is younger. Jamil may rotate.
Center-back: Chinglensana Singh Konsham vs Mehtab Singh. Chinglensana started against Panama. Mehtab was called up as cover for the injured Ricky Meetei Haobam.
Attack: Rahim Ali vs Ryan Williams. Williams scored against Panama. Rahim started. Jamil may prefer Williams’ form.
Midfield: Anirudh Thapa vs Lalengmawia Ralte. Both started against Panama. Both are likely to start again. The question is who sits deeper.
The battles for places matter. India have three matches in six days. Rotation is likely. Jamil will use the full squad.
The Battles for Places: Brazil
Right wing: Estevao vs Rayan. Raphinha is out. Estevao is the likely replacement. Rayan scored the late equalizer against Australia in Townsville. Both are young. Both are hungry.
Midfield: Andrey Santos vs Danilo Santos. Andrey started against Australia. Danilo is the alternative. Ancelotti may rotate.
Right-back: Vanderson vs Matheuzinho. Wesley is out. Vanderson replaced him. Matheuzinho is also in the squad. Both could start.
Goalkeeper: Pedro Morisco vs Hugo Souza. Morisco starts against India. Hugo Souza started against Australia. The rotation is deliberate.
The Confirmed Squad Reality: Why XIs Change
Confirmed squads always change at the last moment. Coaches weigh fitness, travel, tactics, and opposition. A player named in the 26 may not make the matchday squad. A player expected to start may sit.
Brazil have already made two forced changes. Wesley is out with a muscle injury. Joao Pedro is out with a knee injury. Vanderson and Matheus Martinelli replaced them.
Raphinha is out. He played 45 minutes against Australia. He scored a penalty. He felt discomfort in his right thigh. The CBF confirmed a small muscle edema. He returns to Barcelona. No replacement was called up.
India have their own concerns. Ricky Meetei Haobam is injured. He will not join the camp. Mehtab Singh was called up as defensive cover.
This is normal. This is the nature of international football. The confirmed squad is a starting point. The final XI is decided hours before kickoff. Readers should expect changes.
For bettors, this matters. Lineups drop roughly an hour before kickoff. Markets shift. The confirmed squad is not the confirmed XI.
The Bottom Line: Players to Watch
Vinicius Junior: The Real Madrid winger. The main threat. India’s right-back faces a long night.
Endrick: The Real Madrid striker. His movement and finishing are elite.
Estevao: The Chelsea winger. 19 years old. Raphinha’s replacement. His chance to impress.
Pedro Morisco: The Coritiba goalkeeper. 22 years old. International debut. The pressure is on.
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu: India’s captain. The most capped player. He will be busy.
Anirudh Thapa: India’s midfield engine. He must retain possession against Brazil’s press.
Manvir Singh: India’s main striker. He needs to hold the ball up and bring others into play.
India vs Brazil. October 3. Salt Lake Stadium. The players will remember it forever.
