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 in action on 22nd September, 2026 and will be ready to run until 6th 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 look to start from 22nd September 2026, let’s look at the fixture of the IFA Shield 2026.
Six teams will fight for the crown
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East Bengal FC, Mohammedan SC and Punjab FC will form Group A, while defending champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Sreenidi Deccan and NorthEast United will compete in Group B. 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 A, the ISL 2025-26 and Durand Cup 2026 champions East Bengal FC are ready to roar as they share their group with Mohammedan SC after they were relegated from the ISL to the Indian Football League (IFL) last season, and Punjab FC 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 East Bengal FC kick off the fresh campaign against Mohammedan SC on 22nd September, while their arch-rivals Mohun Bagan will play against IFL side Sreenidi Deccan a day later at Mohun Bagan Ground from 15:00 IST.
After the group stage, the two semi-finals will be played on 2nd 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
| Group A | Group B |
|---|---|
| East Bengal FC | Mohun Bagan Super Giant |
| Mohammedan SC | Sreenidi Deccan FC |
| Punjab FC | NorthEast United FC |
IFA Shield 2026 Fixtures
| Date | Match | Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 22 | Mohammedan SC vs East Bengal FC | 3:00 PM | TBA |
| September 23 | Mohun Bagan SG vs Sreenidi Deccan FC | 3:00 PM | Mohun Bagan Ground |
| September 25 | Mohammedan SC vs Punjab FC | 3:00 PM | TBA |
| September 26 | Sreenidi Deccan FC vs NorthEast United FC | 3:00 PM | TBA |
| September 28 | East Bengal FC vs Punjab FC | 3:00 PM | East Bengal Ground |
| September 29 | Mohun Bagan SG vs NorthEast United FC | 3:00 PM | Mohun Bagan Ground |
| October 2 | Semi-final 1 | TBA | TBA |
| October 2 | Semi-final 2 | TBA | TBA |
| October 6 | Final | TBA | TBA |
When will the IFA Shield 2026 begin?
The IFA Shield 2026 will begin on September 22, 2026.
Who will East Bengal face in their opening IFA Shield 2026 match?
East Bengal will face Mohammedan Sporting Club on September 22 at 3 pm.
How many times have East Bengal and Mohun Bagan won the IFA Shield?
According to the information provided, East Bengal have won the IFA Shield 29 times, while Mohun Bagan have won it 21 times.
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