IFL 2026-27: Dempo beat Bengaluru United 1-0 as Matchweek 1 concludes; five teams share lead

Dempo SC defeated Bengaluru United 1-0 at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Margao on November 1, 2026, as the opening Matchweek of the Indian Football League 2026-27 season finished with a double-header. Earlier in the day, Rajasthan United hosted Sreenidi Deccan in Jaipur, with Sreenidi winning by a solitary goal.

Dempo entered the game as five-time national champions while Bengaluru United were making their top-flight debut. Nallappan Mohanraj’s side, captained by Lalramdinsanga Ralte, was appearing in the top flight for the first time. Dempo had finished sixth in last season’s Championship Round. The pair had met twice in I-League 2 in 2023-24, with Bengaluru United winning 1-0 in Goa and Dempo winning 2-1 in Bengaluru, leaving the evening as an opportunity to settle their head-to-head balance.

The Goa fixture was decided by a late strike, with the post-match message noting the decisive moment: "Budu’s last-gasp winner seals the deal as @demposcofficial kick off their #IFL campaign with a thrilling home victory! 🔥#DEMFCBU | #IndianFootballLeague | #IFL | #IndianFootball pic.twitter.com/TqYHuh8UjB". The goal gave Dempo a 1-0 victory and a winning start to their IFL campaign.

After five games in Matchweek 1, five teams sit level on three points each, separated only by goal difference. Nagaland United lead that group on a +2 goal difference, while Gokulam, Shillong, Sreenidi and Dempo are tied with each other on both points and goal difference.

Real Kashmir, Mohammedan, Samaleswari, Rajasthan and Bengaluru United all lost on the opening days and occupy places in the bottom half of the table. Chanmari are currently sixth in the standings despite having played no games in Matchweek 1.

Matchweek 1 is now complete and the competition will move into Matchweek 2.