At Navi Mumbai university visit, Cafu urges India to bring more children into football

Former Brazil captain Cafu used a visit to Pillai University in Navi Mumbai to make a simple pitch for Indian football: get more children playing.

India’s national team will meet Brazil in an international friendly at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium on October 3, a first meeting between the two countries. Cafu said the match could benefit both Indian supporters and the national side, even with a significant difference in the teams’ rankings.

“Popularise it, encourage it, encourage children to play football, advertise the sport, and study the great footballing schools,” said Cafu, a two-time World Cup winner.

He pointed to Japan, South Korea and China, saying those countries had brought in Brazilian coaches and players while building wider interest in the sport. India, he said, has the capacity to do the same.

Cafu also welcomed FIFA’s proposed expansion of the World Cup to 64 teams from 2030, though the governing body has not made a final decision. For Indian football, the immediate landmark remains the Kolkata fixture on October 3.