The IFA Shield is set to return in September 2026, bringing one of Indian football’s oldest and most historic competitions back into the spotlight. Since its inception all the way back in 1893 during the British Raj, the tournament has held a special place in Kolkata’s football culture, with the rivalry between the city’s traditional giants adding an extra layer of significance to the competition full of legacies. After an emotional return in 2025, when Mohun Bagan Super Giant defeated East Bengal on penalties in a dramatic final, the Shield is back for another edition with six teams competing for one of Indian football’s most prestigious traditional trophies. The 2026 IFA Shield will kick off on 23rd September with holders Mohun Bagan taking on Sreenidi Deccan.
Like last year, the IFA Shield is once again being held during the international break and before an ISL season. As a result, participating clubs would be deprived of national team players, especially East Bengal and Mohun Bagan. Indian football will create history in the upcoming international break as they will play a series of friendlies against World Cup teams, beginning with Panama in Bengaluru on 25 September and two eye-catching fixtures against record world champions Brazil on 3rd October and two-time winners Uruguay on October 6. Hence, the Kolkata giants might not even have players in the national camp available possibly until the final, should they make it there.
The latter two friendlies being played at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata also bring a unique challenge to the tournament as a whole. As a result, the venues for semifinal games and the date for the final itself have not been decided yet. The group games will be mainly played at Mohun Bagan and East Bengal grounds. The 2026 edition will retain the same format, with six clubs divided into two groups of three. East Bengal FC, Calcutta Customs 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.
IFA Shield 2026-27 Teams
Calcutta Customs
Punjab FC
Mohun Bagan Super Giant
NorthEast United
East Bengal FC
Sreenidi Deccan
Group A
East Bengal FC
Calcutta Customs
Punjab FC
Group A will contain last edition’s finalists East Bengal, fellow Calcutta League side Calcutta Customs and Punjab FC of ISL. Mohammedan SC was originally part of this group but decided to withdraw from the tournament and was replaced by Customs as a late entry to the competition. The Red and Gold narrowly lost the title to arch-rivals Mohun Bagan on penalties despite taking the lead, a reverse of the 2018 final, hoping to fulfil the taste for the title, which they have won a record 29 times, this edition and the first in eight years. They are one of the favourites again after also grabbing their first ISL title earlier this year. Meanwhile, the Shers are playing in the IFA Shield first time hoing to prove that they are not the team to sleep on.
Fixtures
Thursday, 24 September 2026
Calcutta Customs vs East Bengal FC - East Bengal Ground, Kolkata (15:00)
Sunday, 27 September 2026
Calcutta Customs vs Punjab FC - TBD (15:00)
Wednesday, 30 September 2026
East Bengal FC vs Punjab FC - East Bengal Ground (15:00)
Group B
Mohun Bagan
Sreenidi Deccan
NorthEast United
Defending champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant will also face a difficult group, having drawn with fellow ISL side NorthEast United and a second-division team, Sreenidi Deccan. The Mariners had a memorable victory in the final last time and will try to defend their IFA Shield honour for the first time since 1999 and extend their tally to 21 times. The embarrassing loss to cross-city rivals in the Durand Cup final last month is very fresh in the memories and the Green and the Maroon will fight for every blade of grass for a statement ahead of the ISL season. Meanwhile, the Highlanders will be seeking their first IFA Shield title in which is their debut in the tournament. Having already added the Durand Cup twice, they will want to add another historical trophy to their cabinet to further define their progress over the years. On the other hand, Sreenidi is participating for the third time in the competition, having made a daring run to the final in 2021 and also competing in the previous edition.
Fixtures
Wednesday, 23 September 2026
Mohun Bagan vs Sreenidi Deccan - Mohun Bagan Ground (15:00)
Saturday, 26 September 2026
Sreenidi Deccan vs NorthEast United - TBD (15:00)
Tuesday, 29 September 2026
Mohun Bagan vs NorthEast United - Mohun Bagan Ground (15:00)
Knockout Stage
Semifinals
4 October 2026
Semifinal 1
TBD vs TBD - TBD
Semifinal 2
TBD vs TBD - TBD
Final
TBD
Winner SF 1 vs Winner SF 2 - TBD