IFA Shield 2026: Take a look at complete schedule and groups

East Bengal FC will open the tournament against Mohammedan SC

The Indian Football Association Shield, or primarily known as the IFA Shield, is set to return to action on 23rd September, 2026 and will be ready to run until the second week of October, 2026, as the most prestigious tournament is ready to grab the spotlight again after an emotional return in 2025, when Mohun Bagan clinched the trophy by beating East Bengal.

Since its inception in 1893, when the Indian Football Association, the football governing body in the Indian state of West Bengal, started with the full phase, this has become one of the oldest football competitions with a rich legacy and is also considered the third oldest football tournament in India after the Durand Cup and the Trades Cup.

During the initial years of this tournament, as it was portrayed as a royal game in British Raj India before the independence era, most of the British clubs won most of the titles, as the Royal Irish Rifles won the first edition of the tournament, but Mohun Bagan broke that when they became the first all Indian club to win the Shield barefoot against the British East Yorkshire Regiment in 1911. And now, as the stage is set, this IFA Shield 2026 will be the 126th edition.

Now, as the competition is taking shape and will start on 22nd September 2026, let’s look at the fixture of the IFA Shield 2026.

A new development emerged as Mohammedan SC, the IFL side, and one of the Kolkata Giants, who are ready to participate in the competition, have opted out of the tournament due to following a major refereeing allegation made by the Mohammedan SC management in the final matchday against the Mariners. After the decision made by the Kolkata outfit, Calcutta Customs FC are set to replace Mohammedan SC and are ready to contest against East Bengal FC and Punjab FC from Group A.

As the game progresses with two games, the IFA has revised its schedule due to bad weather conditions in Kolkata and the coastal areas, and the governing body has shifted the kickoff time for all upcoming Shield games from 15:00 IST to 14:30 IST.

Six teams will fight for the crown

East Bengal FC, Calcutta Customs FC and Punjab FC will form Group B, while defending champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Sreenidi Deccan and NorthEast United will compete in Group A. The group winners and the two runners-up will qualify for the semifinals, followed by the final. The Red & Gold Brigade will eye their 30th title while Mohun Bagan will aim for their 22nd trophy after winning it last year in a dramatic penalty shootout against East Bengal FC.

Talking about Group B, the ISL 2025-26 and Durand Cup 2026 champions East Bengal FC are ready to roar as they share their group with Calcutta Customs, who finished fourth in the CFL 2026, and Punjab FC, who will look to prove their worth by playing in this group. After narrowly missing out on last season’s Shield title to Mohun Bagan, the Torchbearers surely look to win another title to maintain their momentum in this competition.

The tournament will see Mohun Bagan play against IFL side Sreenidi Deccan a day later at Mohun Bagan Ground from 15:00 IST, while their arch-rivals East Bengal FC lock horns against Calcutta Customs FC on 24th September, 2026 at the East Bengal Ground from 15:00 IST.

After the group stage, the two semi-finals will be played on 4th October, and the final will be ready to take place on 6th October, 2026, as the timing and venue have not been officially confirmed yet.

IFA Shield 2026 Groups & Fixtures

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