FC Goa to face Fortis FC in 2026-27 AFC Challenge League group stage on 20 October 2026
On 20 October 2026 FC Goa are set to meet Fortis FC of Bangladesh in their second match of the 2026-27 AFC Challenge League group stages, a first-time Asian meeting between FC Goa and a Bangladeshi club. The fixture also represents Fortis FC’s first encounter with an Indian Super League side and their debut in an AFC-labelled competition at this level.
Fortis FC were founded in 2020 by the Fortis Group in Bangladesh with an initial focus on establishing youth academies. The club entered the Bangladesh football pyramid directly into the Bangladesh Championship League for the 2020-21 season, finishing third that year before winning the second division title in 2021-22. Since promotion they have remained in the Bangladesh Premier League and have “stayed alive in the competition for the last four years.”
On the back of a third-place finish in the 2025-26 Bangladesh Football League, Fortis earned a place in the qualifiers for the 2026-27 AFC Challenge League and progressed to the group stages by defeating Muras United in the preliminary round. The club has yet to claim major cup silverware, having produced relatively disappointing runs in the Federation Cup and Independence Cup, and their squad includes six foreign players, two of whom are from Nepal.
Masud Parvez Kaiser has been Fortis FC’s head coach since the 2022-23 season and, according to the club account, his work has kept him “in the hot seat for more than four years.” Kaiser is credited in the source with ensuring the team’s top-flight survival while promoting attacking football and helping Fortis climb the Bangladesh Football League table, notably playing a key role in the 2025-26 season.
Kaiser’s teams have been structured to maintain a compact defensive line; Fortis recorded the best defensive record and conceded the fewest goals in the 2025-26 Bangladesh Football League. He typically alternates between a 4-3-3 and a 4-4-2 formation, with the 4-4-2 employed in their previous AFC Challenge League match, and prefers quick attacking transitions that utilise wingers and wide areas to create chances inside the penalty area.
Forward Pa Babou, who joined Fortis in the 2023-24 season, has been the club’s top scorer for three straight campaigns and netted 13 goals in the prior season, making him a central figure in their continental campaign. Midfielder Arik Bista, who played for Shillong Lajong in 2024 and joined Fortis ahead of the 2026-27 season, is noted for his pressing and duel-winning abilities and for providing forward passes that can create scoring opportunities.
Fortis plan to defend with a tight, mobile shape designed to close down space, frustrate FC Goa and attempt to exploit transitions and counterattacks with quick wide players and experienced forwards. The club has stated it will treat the match as a chance to secure its first continental points and be motivated to prove its quality against the Indian side.
The immediate outcome will be decided in the AFC Challenge League group-stage meeting with FC Goa, where Fortis will pursue their first continental victory while FC Goa play their second group-stage fixture.