East Bengal complete squad for ISL 2026-27 season
Can Antonio Habas retain top Indian honours for Red and Gold Brigade ?
East Bengal will enter the 2026-27 Indian Super League season as India’s defending champions. The Red and Golden Brigade ended their 22-year wait for a national league title by winning the 2025-26 ISL dramatically at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan.
They also got the better of arch-rivals Mohun Bagan 4-1 in the Durand Cup Finals. After Oscar Bruzon parted ways, they roped in former Mohun Bagan coach Antonio Lopez Habas. The Spaniard has tremendous experience coaching in India and is regarded as one of the most successful coaches in ISL history.
Talking about their Indian signings, they roped in Narender Gahlot, Rohit Danu and Sandip Mandi from Inter Kashi, whereas Raynier Fernandes and Mark Zo switched sides from Jamshedpur FC. Joining the Indian contingent were Phurba Lachenpa from Mumbai City, Hardik Bhat, Asif Khan and Rohit Kumar.
Their foreign contingent looks brand new with Spaniard Nacho Monsalve, Nigerian Nsungusi Effiong, Greek Chris Ikonomidis, Croatian Diego Živulić, Dani Ramirez, Polish Łukasz Zwoliński and Ivorian Ake Loba.
They are set to host Iraqi outfit Al Shorta at home for their second game in the AFC Champions League 2 group fixtures.
They will play their first three ISL games away from home against Churchill Brothers, Inter Kashi and Chennaiyin FC before taking on SC Delhi in their first home game of the season.
East Bengal Squad for ISL 2026-27 season
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Goalkeepers: Gourab Shaw, Phurba Tempa Lachenpa, Prabhsukhan Singh Gill
Defenders: Anwar Ali, Chaku Mandi, Hardik Bhatt, Ignacio Monsalve Vicente, Jay Gupta, Lalchungnunga, Martand Raina, Mohamad Rakip, Narender Gahlot, Sandip Mandi
Midfielders: Bipin Singh Thounaojam, Boris Singh Thangjam, Christopher James Ikonomidis, Daniel Ramirez Fernandez, Danish Farooq, Diego Zivulic, Edmund Lalrindika, Guite Vanlalpeka, Jeakson Singh Thounaojam, Lalramsanga, Mohammed Asif Khan, Mohammed Bassim Ahmed Rashid, Naorem Mahesh Singh, Raynier Raymond Fernandes, Rohit Kumar, Souvik Alok Chakrabarti, Vishnu Puthiya Valappill
Forwards: Ake Arnaud Loba, David Lalhlansanga, Jesin TK Thonikkara, Lukasz Zwolinski, Nsungusi Effiong, Rohit Danu
Head Coach: Antonio Lopez Habas
Red & Gold’s fixtures for ISL 2026-27 Phase 1
| Date | Time | Opponent 1 | Opponent 2 | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 October 2026 | 5:00 PM | Churchill Brothers | East Bengal FC | Fatorda Stadium, Goa |
| 23 October 2026 | 5:00 PM | Inter Kashi | East Bengal FC | TBC |
| 7 November 2026 | 7:30 PM | Chennaiyin FC | East Bengal FC | Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai |
| 20 November 2026 | 5:00 PM | East Bengal FC | Sporting Club Delhi | Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata |
| 29 November 2026 | 7:30 PM | East Bengal FC | Mohun Bagan SG | Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata |
| 4 December 2026 | 7:30 PM | East Bengal FC | Punjab FC | Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata |
| 13 December 2026 | 5:00 PM | Mumbai City FC | East Bengal FC | Mumbai Football Arena, Mumbai |
| 17 December 2026 | 7:30 PM | Bengaluru FC | East Bengal FC | Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru |
| 21 December 2026 | 7:30 PM | East Bengal FC | NorthEast United FC | Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata |
| 3 January 2027 | 5:00 PM | East Bengal FC | Odisha FC | Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata |
| 9 January 2027 | 5:00 PM | East Bengal FC | FC Goa | Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata |
| 16 January 2027 | 7:30 PM | Kerala Blasters FC | East Bengal FC | Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi |
Who is East Bengal’s coach for ISL 2026-27?
Antonio Lopez Habas is the coach for ISL 2026-27
Where will the Torchbearers play their home games in ISL 2026-27?
The Torchbearers will play their home games in ISL 2026-27 at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata.
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