IFA Shield 2026 schedule: East Bengal to open on September 22; Champion Mohun Bagan plays a day later
File photo: Mohun Bagan Super Giant (left) had beaten East Bengal on penalties in last edition’s IFA Shield final to lift its 21st title. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
File photo: Mohun Bagan Super Giant (left) had beaten East Bengal on penalties in last edition’s IFA Shield final to lift its 21st title. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The Indian Football Association Shield, popularly known as the IFA Shield, is set to return for the 2026 edition on September 22, with Indian Super League (ISL) champion East Bengal opening the tournament against Mohammedan Sporting Club.
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The IFA Shield is the third-oldest football tournament in India, and holds a special place in the sport’s history in the country. In 1911, Mohun Bagan became the first all-Indian side to win the title, beating East Yorkshire Regiment.
Over the years after independence, the tournament has been dominated by the Bagan and its arch-rival East Bengal, with the former winning it 21 times and the latter, 29 times.
In the last edition of the IFA Shield, Bagan beat East Bengal 5-4 on penalties.
At the 2026 IFA Shield, East Bengal and Bagan have been drawn in different groups, which ensures that should they qualify beyond the group stages, the Kolkata derby will be another knockout. Four teams from the ISL and two from the Indian Football League(IFL) will be playing in the tournament.
Teams in IFA Shield 2026:
- Group A: East Bengal FC, Mohammedan SC, Punjab FC
- Group B: Mohun Bagan Super Giant, NorthEast United, Sreenidi Deccan
IFA Shield 2026 schedule:
- September 22: Mohammedan SC vs East Bengal FC — 3 pm
- September 23: Mohun Bagan vs Sreenidi Deccan — 3 pm
- September 25: Mohammedan SC vs Punjab FC — 3 pm
- September 26: Sreenidi Deccan vs NorthEast United — 3 pm
- September 28: East Bengal FC vs Punjab FC — 3 pm
- September 29: Mohun Bagan vs NorthEast United — 3pm
- October 2: Semifinal 1 – TBA
- October 2: Semifinal 1 – TBA
- Date and details of the final are yet to be announced
Published on Sep 16, 2026
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- IFA Shield 2026 schedule: East Bengal to open on September 22; Champion Mohun Bagan plays a day later
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