FC Goa vs Fortis FC Preview: Lineups, Team News | AFC Challenge League 2026-27

The Goan side lost their first match of the 2026-27 AFC Challenge League.

FC Goa look to get their first win in the group stages of the 2026-27 AFC Challenge League, when they face off against Bangladeshi side Fortis FC in their second match at the Mohammed Al-Hamad Stadium on Tuesday (20 October, 2026).

The Gaurs faced a bitter loss in their opener for the continental competition, but now look to regain match-winning momentum against the unpredictable Bangladesh Premier League team.

Fortis FC lost their opening match of the AFC Challenge League 3-0 to Oadsia SC. The home team Qadsia SC were in control of the entire match and forced Fortis FC into multiple mistakes. The Bangladeshi team ended up conceding a penalty in the 20th minute of the game.

The Stakes

FC Goa

The Gaurs were able to produce a pretty gritty display for the majority of their 2026-27 AFC Challenge League opener against Regar-TadAZ, but ended up seeing their good work undone by two late goals. All that Gourmangi Singh’s side can now do is to bounce back up and try to regain their winning momentum, which is absolutely crucial for their hopes of making it to the knockout stages.

FC Goa will aim to play some thrilling attacking football in the upcoming clash, taking the fight to Fortis with high-octane build-up play and trying to be innovative in the final third as well. They will, of course, need to be respectful towards their opponents with strong defending – but the priority has to be to play clever attacking football to get a big win.

A commanding victory for FC Goa will definitely raise their spirits and keep them in contention to make the next rounds, but a draw or loss can more or less end all those hopes.

Fortis FC

Fortis FC were made to eat humble pie in their first-ever AFC Challenge League match against hosts Al-Qadsia in the opening group game, but they’re at least been able to learn a lot of things from that. The Bangladesh side will need to be way more careful with their approach against FC Goa, as they cannot allow themselves to be as open or erroneous as they were in the previous game.

Masud Parvez Kaiser will need to work hard in ensuring that his players can keep a much sturdier defensive shape, and work hard inside their half to win duels and neutralize the Gaurs’ threat. However, the Fortis FC players also need to be brave and proactive in the attacking transitions – efficiently finishing their chances to stun the Indian club.

A possible win for Fortis FC will be a huge morale-booster and give belief that they can thrive at this stage, but another crushing loss will end their narrow hopes of making it past the group stages.

Team News

Franchu remains a major injury doubt for FC Goa heading into their clash against Fortis FC.

Fortis FC, however, should have the same squad available as they did in the previous game in the AFC Challenge League.

Head-to-Head Record

This match will mark the first time that FC Goa and Fortis FC face each other in a continental competition.

Predicted Lineups

FC Goa (4-4-2)

Lara Sharma (GK), Akash Singh, Sandesh Jhingan, Alex Zalaya, Ronney Kharbudon, Haobam Singh, Alex Vallejo, Udanta Singh, Muhammed Nemil, Jorge Ortiz, Chiki

Fortis FC (4-4-2)

Sujan Perera (GK), Rasel Hossain, Ananta Tamang, Shian Kawasaki, Yusei Shimomura, Essa Jallow, Anik Bista, Insan Hossen, Shuki Itofusa, Stephen Chukwude, Pa Babou

Players to Watchout

Jorge Ortiz (FC Goa)

Jorge Ortiz made his return to FC Goa in the 2026 summer window, but is yet to produce any blockbuster performance for them. The Spanish forward has a lot of experience of playing for the Gaurs, as he even scored for them in the AFC Champions League Elite in the 2021-22 season.

Ortiz is a pretty versatile attacker, being able to slot into multiple areas in the frontline and being an innovative threat. It’s time that the 34-year-old forward makes good use of his experience levels to enhance FC Goa’s attacking threat in the Fortis FC clash.

He will look to be smart with his link-up play and off-the-ball movement to get the ball into the danger zones and unsettle the opposition defenders. While Ortiz will be urged to create more chances for FC Goa, his primary objective will be to finish off chances in ruthless fashion to help his side get a big win.

Pa Babou (Fortis FC)

Fortis FC are well aware that they cannot play on the defensive against FC Goa if they aspire to make it past the group stages of the 2026-27 AFC Challenge League. That is probably why they will require their forwards to be at their prolific best and a lot of responsibilities will also be put on the shoulders of Pa Babou.

The 28-year-old forward has actually had a really impressive start to the 2026-27 season, having four goals and three assists in three Bangladesh Premier League matches so far. The Gambian forward can be a really energetic threat, being able to cover a lot of space and also get a hold of the ball in the open spaces in the final third.

Babou has to be perfect with his runs into the box and positioning to get at the end of chances properly, and also needs to finish them off efficiently to help them get a big win.

Did you know?

• Chiki’s goal against Regar-TadAZ was FC Goa’s first-ever goal scored in an AFC Challenge League match.
• Fortis FC was created only six years ago in 2020, and they won the their first title in the Bangladesh Championship League in the 2021-22 season.
• The clash against Fortis FC will mark the first time that FC Goa will face a Bangladeshi side at the continental level.

Telecast Details

The Fortis FC vs FC Goa clash will take place at the Mohammed Al-Hamad Stadium in Hawally (Kuwait) on 20 October, 2026. It will kick off at 6:55 PM IST. The match is likely to be live-streamed on YouTube.

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