The IFA Shield is set to return for its 2026 edition on September 23, with defending champion Mohun Bagan Super Giant taking on Sreenidi Deccan in the opening match at 3 pm.
One of Indian football’s historic competitions, the Indian Football Association Shield is the third-oldest football tournament in the country. Its history includes Mohun Bagan’s landmark triumph in 1911, when it became the first all-Indian team to lift the trophy after defeating East Yorkshire Regiment.
Mohun Bagan and East Bengal have gone on to become the two dominant teams in the competition. East Bengal has won the Shield 29 times, while Mohun Bagan has claimed 21 titles.
The rivalry was also at the centre of the previous edition, when Mohun Bagan defeated East Bengal 5-4 in a penalty shootout to win the trophy.
For the 2026 tournament, the two Kolkata giants have been placed in separate groups, meaning they cannot face each other during the opening stage. If both progress, another Kolkata derby could take place in the knockout rounds.
East Bengal headlines Group A alongside Calcutta Customs Club and Punjab FC. Group B features Mohun Bagan, NorthEast United and Sreenidi Deccan.
After the September 23 opener, East Bengal will begin its campaign against Calcutta Customs Club on September 24 at 3 pm. Sreenidi Deccan will then face NorthEast United on September 26, followed by Calcutta Customs against Punjab FC on September 27.
Mohun Bagan returns to action against NorthEast United on September 29, while the group stage concludes with Punjab FC facing East Bengal on September 30. All six group matches are scheduled to begin at 3 pm.
The tournament will then move into the knockout phase, with both semifinals scheduled for October 4. The semifinal matchups will be determined by the results of the group stage.
The date and other details for the IFA Shield 2026 final have not yet been announced.
With six teams competing across two groups and both Kolkata heavyweights kept apart in the opening phase, the tournament could set up another high-profile meeting between Mohun Bagan and East Bengal if they advance.
