Four ISL clubs among six teams in Kolkata as IFA Shield 2026 starts on Sept 23
Punjab FC, NorthEast United FC, Mohun Bagan Super Giant and East Bengal FC are four Indian Super League sides included among six teams competing in the IFA Shield 2026 in Kolkata, which begins on 23 September 2026.
The IFA Shield, first held in 1893 and one of Asia’s oldest club competitions, returns this year as a six-team tournament staged in the international window before domestic leagues commence; the field comprises four ISL clubs, one IFL club and Calcutta Customs Club, the latter added after Mohammedan SC withdrew. The organiser describes the competition as a key pre-season opportunity for squads ahead of the ISL and IFL campaigns.
Punjab FC enter Group B after an ISL 2025-26 season described in the source as having featured a mature brand of football under Panagiotis Dilmperis; the club has undergone key departures and brought in new recruitments while appointing Pavlos Dermitzakis as head coach. Punjab were drawn in Group B with East Bengal FC and Calcutta Customs Club, will face Calcutta Customs in their opening group match on 27 September 2026 at 15:00 IST, and meet East Bengal in their final group fixture on 30 September 2026 at 15:00 IST at the East Bengal Ground.
NorthEast United FC make their debut in the 126th edition and are placed in Group A alongside Sreenidi Deccan FC and Mohun Bagan; the Highlanders reached the Durand Cup 2026 semi-finals, and the source notes they have never previously won the IFA Shield. NorthEast begin Group A against Sreenidi Deccan FC on 26 September 2026 at 15:00 IST, and will play their final group game against Mohun Bagan on 29 September 2026 at 15:00 IST, with the Mohun Bagan Ground hosting Pedro Benali’s side for that fixture.
Mohun Bagan enter the tournament with 23 IFA Shield titles and are aiming for another under their new head coach Dilmperis, following a Durand Cup 2026 final defeat to East Bengal; the team also claimed the Calcutta Football League 2026 title by beating Mohammedan SC according to the source. Placed in Group A with Sreenidi Deccan and NorthEast United FC, Mohun Bagan begin their IFA Shield campaign against Sreenidi Deccan FC on 23 September and then play NorthEast United FC on 29 September, with both games scheduled at the Mohun Bagan Ground.
East Bengal enter the competition as the tournament’s most successful side with 29 IFA Shield titles, arriving after a season that included qualification for the AFC Champions League Two and a 4-1 victory over Mohun Bagan in the 2026 Durand Cup final. The Torchbearers are in Group B with Punjab FC and Calcutta Customs Club, will open against Calcutta Customs Club on 24 September at the East Bengal Ground, and will host Punjab FC on 30 September 2026 at 15:00 IST at the East Bengal Ground.
The full six-team lineup for IFA Shield 2026 is listed in the source as Punjab FC, NorthEast United FC, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, East Bengal FC, Sreenidi Deccan FC and Calcutta Customs Club; four of those are ISL clubs, Sreenidi Deccan represent the IFL, and Calcutta Customs joined after Mohammedan SC withdrew.
The tournament opens on 23 September 2026 with Mohun Bagan facing Sreenidi Deccan FC at the Mohun Bagan Ground, and group-stage fixtures continue through 30 September 2026, concluding with East Bengal hosting Punjab FC at the East Bengal Ground.