Gokulam Kerala to host Samaleswari in IFL 2026-27 opener at EMS Stadium on Oct 31
Gokulam Kerala will face Samaleswari at the EMS Corporation Stadium in Calicut in the opening Matchweek of the Indian Football League on Saturday, 31st October, 2026, with kickoff scheduled for 18:30 IST; the fixture and the rest of the IFL 2026-27 season will be broadcast live on DD Sports and streamed on Waves OTT.
The fixture pits established two-time I-League champions Gokulam Kerala against debutants Samaleswari in what the preview describes as a meeting between a club with history and an outfit seeking to establish itself. The match takes place in Kerala, referred to in the report as God’s Own Country, and arrives after a season in which Gokulam only avoided relegation to the third division because Trijoy Dias scored in the dying seconds against Namdhari. The Malabarians have made substantial changes to their roster ahead of this campaign and are preparing for a turnaround.
Gokulam's coaching appointment and foreign recruitment are outlined in the preview: Brazilian Carlos Eduardo Parreira has been brought in after Renjith CM’s interim spell ended, with the report noting Parreira’s experience coaching in Asia for clubs including Wuhan China, Al Ittihad Kalba UAE and Al-Qaisumah. The club’s foreign contingent is listed as Brazilians Crislan and Victor, Spaniards Mikel Kortazar and Hugo Diaz, Portuguese João Rodrigues and Ghanaian forward Denny Antwi. Domestically, midfielder Lalchungnunga Chhangte is recorded as joining from Sreenidi Deccan.
The Sambalpur-based Samaleswari are described as making their debut in the Indian Football League after acquiring the IFL license of Delhi FC, and the preview states the club progressed from fourth-division football last season to secure that licence. The Odisha outfit is said to be led by Abdul Azim Siddique and to have signed Argentine Jorge Pereyra Diaz, Liberian striker Jamal Arago and Ghanaian midfielder Kamal Issah as part of their foreign recruitment.
The report specifies that this will be the first meeting between Gokulam Kerala and Samaleswari and that both sides arrive with full squads apart from any injuries. A predicted Gokulam Kerala XI (4-3-3) is provided as: Shibin Raj (GK): Soyal Joshy, Mikel Kortazar, Sarthak Golui, Sachu Siby, Ayush Adhikari, Mirjalol Kasimov, Nili Perdomo, Lotjem, Crislan, Victor. An additional list reads: Matheus Aaryan Anjaneya (GK): Prosenjit Chakraborty, Robin Chettri, Manjit Sharma, Shahid Nazir Wani, Aubin Kouakou, Armand Bazie, William Pauliankhum, Asrar Rehbar, Basit Bhat, Gnoheré Krizo.
Both clubs are reported to be aiming for a win in their opening game to gain momentum from the first round. The match will kick off at 18:30 IST on Saturday, 31st October, 2026 at the EMS Stadium in Calicut and will be available live on DD Sports and via Waves OTT.