Dempo SC to host FC Bengaluru United in IFL 2026–27 opener at Goa on November 1

Dempo SC will host FC Bengaluru United at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa on Sunday, November 1, in the opening match of the 2026–27 Indian Football League, with kick-off scheduled for 6:30 PM IST. The fixture pairs an experienced club with a side making its first appearance in the country’s second-tier competition.

Dempo SC finished sixth in the 2025–26 IFL campaign and ended the previous season in the lower half of the Championship Phase standings. The club, described in the preview as one of the oldest in Indian football, arrives at home aiming to climb the table and re-establish itself among the league’s contenders. FC Bengaluru United enter the IFL for the first time after earning promotion via the second-division pathway and have typically focused on developing Indian talent. The preview notes that Bengaluru United will need to adapt to the higher level of competition, and that a positive away result would provide a significant confidence boost.

A projected starting XI provided in the match preview lists: Manjunath Hirekubar (GK), Arjun AG, Vijay marandi, Abdul Hanan, Daniel Muthu, Chunsuba, Harmanpreet, Vishal, Jojo, Dhruv S, Lijo.

Both sides are expected to have their squads available for the season opener, according to the preview. The match will be the first meeting between Dempo SC and FC Bengaluru United in the Indian football league.

The game and the rest of the IFL 2026–27 season will be broadcast live on DD Sports, with live streaming available on Waves OTT.

For additional updates, the preview directs readers to follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube, to download the Khel Now Android App or iOS App, or to join the Khel Now community on WhatsApp and Telegram.

Both clubs begin their 2026–27 IFL campaigns with this fixture on November 1 at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, with kick-off at 6:30 PM IST.