Argentina and Brazil Announce November Friendlies — Different Continents, Same Passion
South America’s World Cup qualifiers are over, with Argentina and Brazil both securing their spots for the 2026 FIFA World Cup months ago. Now, during the final international break of the year, both teams are preparing through high-profile friendly matches.
Argentina will play one match in Africa, while Brazil are set for a two-game European tour.
Argentina Fixtures
Argentina will play a historic friendly against Angola on 14 November, celebrating the African nation’s 50th anniversary of independence.
The match will take place at the Estádio Nacional 11 de Novembro in Luanda, kicking off at 10 PM Bangladesh Time.
For this single fixture, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) will reportedly earn around USD 15 million (approx. 170 crore BDT).
Argentina were also scheduled to visit India to play on 17 November in Kochi or Thiruvananthapuram, with potential opponents including Morocco, Japan, Costa Rica, and Australia.
However, due to logistical issues, stadium readiness, and FIFA approval delays, the India tour has been officially cancelled.
Brazil Fixtures
Brazil, under Carlo Ancelotti, will continue as planned on their European tour, playing two friendlies:
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Kick-off (BST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 November | Senegal | Emirates Stadium, London | 10:00 PM |
| 18 November | Tunisia | Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille, France | 10:00 PM |
These will be Brazil’s final matches of 2025 before their preparations resume next year.
Unfortunately, no South Asian broadcaster will air either Argentina or Brazil’s friendlies, leaving many fans in Bangladesh and India disappointed.
Other Key International Fixtures
| Team | Fixtures | Qualification Scenario |
|---|---|---|
| Portugal (Cristiano Ronaldo) | Ireland (13 Nov), Armenia (16 Nov) | Need one win or two draws |
| England | Serbia (13 Nov), Albania (16 Nov) | Already qualified |
| France (Mbappé) | Ukraine (13 Nov), Azerbaijan (16 Nov) | A draw vs Ukraine secures qualification |
| Spain (Lamine Yamal) | Georgia (15 Nov), Turkey (18 Nov) | One win and one draw sufficient |
| Germany | Luxembourg (14 Nov), Slovakia (17 Nov) | Must win both to qualify |
| Italy | Moldova (13 Nov), Norway (16 Nov) | Must win to stay in contention |
As Europe battles for qualification, South America’s two giants — Messi’s Argentina and Vinícius Jr’s Brazil — will use this window for celebration, experimentation, and fine-tuning before 2026.
Bangladesh Fixtures
Bangladesh will also feature in two matches during this window:
| Date | Opponent | Type | Venue | Kick-off (BST) | Broadcast |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 November | Nepal | Friendly | Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka | 8:00 PM | T Sports |
| 18 November | India | AFC Asian Cup Qualifier | Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka | 8:00 PM | T Sports |