CBF delegation gives positive feedback after Salt Lake Stadium recce

[[{“value”:”

India is set to play a match against Brazil on October 3. Ahead of the match, a five-member delegation from the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) conducted a detailed inspection of the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. They spent more than two hours assessing the facilities and preparations for the clash.

The General Supervisor of Men’s National Teams, Sergio Dimas-led delegation arrived in Kolkata in the early hours on Thursday. They began reviewing the hospitality arrangements before reaching the stadium around 5 PM.

The other members of the delegation were Vinicius Barrozo Costa, Administrator; Jose Vitor Senatore de Paula Lima, Marketing and Operations Manager; Guilherme Passos Ramos, Physiologist; and Bruno Mazzei Reis, Security.

VIDEO | Kolkata: A five-member delegation from the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) on Thursday conducted a detailed inspection of the Salt Lake Stadium on Thursday, spending more than two hours assessing the facilities and preparations for India’s biggest-ever football… pic.twitter.com/bZGajuWPtD

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 20, 2026

They were accompanied by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) Director of Football and former Indian goalkeeper Subrata Paul. Along with him, the CBF’s officials inspected the training facilities, where they spent around 15 minutes before moving to the main premises of the stadium.

On reaching the stadium, the West Bengal sports minister Dr Indranil Khan was seen greeting the visitors by saying, “Welcome to the Mecca of Indian football”.

The delegation then conducted a meticulous inspection of the playing surface, checking different sections of the ground and enquiring about when the grass was last “replaced”.

The CBF officials also examined the changing rooms, toilets and other facilities, with hygiene understood to be among their key concerns.

The Salt Lake Stadium is currently hosting the Durand Cup, and according to sources, the CBF has sought an update on the condition of the grass after 15 days.

Brazilian delegation could likely return for final round of inspection

The Brazilian delegation could return to Kolkata for a final round of inspection if required. This could be India’s biggest-ever football match against one of the bigwigs of the sport, Brazil.

The inspection also comes less than a year after the Salt Lake Stadium was deliberately destroyed on December 13, 2025, when crowd mismanagement and the inability of fans to get a glimpse of the Argentine superstar Lionel Messi led to widespread frustration and violence.

(With PTI Inputs)

“}]]