The Indian men's football team's proposed match against Cape Verde during the September-October FIFA international window appears to be fading, with the two football federations reportedly struggling to reach an agreement on the commercial aspects of the proposed friendly.
According to an earlier Sports Now report, cited by Times Now, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) had been in talks with the Cape Verdean Football Federation over a potential international friendly after confirming India's blockbuster match against Brazil.
ALSO READ | India Vs Panama Friendly Announced As Blue Tigers Prepare For Brazil Test
However, the chances of Cape Verde travelling to India are now slim as the source reportedly put the possibility of the match going ahead at just 5%, with the failure of both parties to reach an agreement on commercial terms emerging as the key obstacle, reported Times Now.
If the fixture does not materialise, Indian football fans will also miss the opportunity to watch Cape Verde's star goalkeeper Vozinha in action in India.
Meanwhile, the AIFF confirmed on Tuesday another international friendly, with India set to face Panama on Sept. 26 ahead of the much-anticipated clash against Brazil. The venue for the Panama match is yet to be announced.
AIFF Deputy Secretary General M. Satyanarayan said he expected the match against Panama to be a tough contest.
"Playing against Panama will be a tough battle ahead of the Brazil game. Panama is a top-50 team in the world, and it will be a good test for Khalid Jamil's boys," he said.
"We are looking forward to our players getting the right exposure, and we normally don't get to play such World Cup teams. So it's a good FIFA window for us, where we are playing such tough teams," he added.
India's marquee friendly against five-time world champions Brazil is scheduled to take place in Kolkata on Oct. 3.
The AIFF has also faced criticism from fans and former players, including Baichung Bhutia, over its decision to withdraw from the FIFA ASEAN Cup because it clashed with the Brazil fixture.
ALSO READ | Here We Go! India To Take On Five-Time World Champions Brazil In Historic Friendly — Check Date, Venue
Several critics have argued that participation in the ASEAN Cup would have provided better opportunities for the Indian national team's development.
India will play four games against the teams that played in this year's World Cup during the next FIFA windows, with Panama, Brazil, and New Zealand all having participated in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
India's demanding international schedule will continue in November, when the Blue Tigers are set to face New Zealand twice, on Nov. 12 and Nov. 15.
Essential Business Intelligence, Sharp Market Insights, Practical Personal Finance Advice, Daily Fuel, Gold and Silver Prices and Latest Stories — On NDTV Profit.