Panaji: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has arranged a private charter aircraft to bring the Brazil national team to Kolkata. The five-time world champions will arrive on Oct 1, but despite a long-haul flight that will take 11 hours, the players are unlikely to be jetlagged.Brazil, ranked no. 5 in the world, will travel from South America to Oceania later this month for two friendlies against former Asian champions Australia. Thereafter, the Selecao is headed to Kolkata where they will play against India on Oct 3.According to an understanding between AIFF and the Brazilian football federation (CBF), the national team will need a special aircraft for the 90-member contingent with at least 30 fully reclining business-class seats for players, coach Carlo Ancelotti and high-ranking federation officials, which includes federation president Samir Xaud.“Brazil has some of the world’s best footballers and deserve special treatment,” a senior official involved in the organisation of the match told TOI. “The organisers have to ensure that despite players travelling between three continents, there is no jetlag when they arrive here. These are star players and travelling in a chartered flight with business class seats for everyone means they arrive fresh. Brazil will play India two days after their arrival, so fitness will be a big factor.”As part of the plan, Brazil will also avoid airport lounges and skip regular immigration queues, with passport and immigration checks being conducted inside the aircraft itself.After the friendly in Kolkata, all players are to be provided with business class flight tickets. Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona, however, will make their own arrangements and possibly arrange a private jet for stars like Vinicius Junior, Raphinha and Endrick.“This is possibly the first time that a sports team is travelling to India on a special charter. Uruguay will also arrive on a chartered flight from Japan. These are former world champions with some of the world’s best and highest-paid footballers,” said another official.Two of the world’s biggest football clubs — Real Madrid and Barcelona — are captained by Brazilians.“The govt is doing its best to ensure that everything is upgraded. The airport will have a different look when Brazil arrive, while the stadium is being refurbished, good enough to host the world’s most popular football team,” said the official who did not want to be named because he is not authorised to speak with the media.India opted out of the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup in Indonesia to focus on the friendly against Brazil, a game the AIFF described as a “once in a lifetime opportunity for the players.” Subsequently, games against Uruguay and Panama were added to the international window.
