Inter Kashi FC to host East Bengal FC at Balewadi Stadium on 23 October in ISL clash
Inter Kashi FC will meet East Bengal FC at the Balewadi Stadium in Pune on 23 October in an Indian Super League fixture, with kick-off scheduled for 17:00 IST. The two clubs have met only once previously, a game won by East Bengal.
Spanish coach Antonio Lopez Habas, now East Bengal’s head coach, is set to face his former side. After winning the 2023-24 ISL Shield with Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Habas moved to Inter Kashi FC in the I-League (now IFL), led that team to the I-League title in his first season to secure promotion and guided them to a solid mid-table finish in the 2025-26 ISL.
Inter Kashi enter the 2026/27 ISL season amid notable financial strain and transfer restrictions and are currently forced to field an all-Indian squad. Carlos Vaz Pinto has taken charge of the team and, according to the club report, has steadied the side despite a loss to Kerala Blasters and a draw against an Odisha FC side that featured five foreign players.
East Bengal have played one match so far in the 2026-27 ISL, recording a 4-0 victory over Churchill Brothers SC in their opening game. The club also won the Durand Cup this season and has been described as having impressed in the 2026-27 AFC Champions League Two campaign; they face Inter Kashi before taking on Al-Seeb in two Champions League fixtures.
The clubs’ sole previous meeting occurred in the final game week of the 2025-26 ISL, a fixture described as a must-win for East Bengal as they pursued their first ISL title. Inter Kashi were led by Abhijit Mondal after Habas parted ways with the club just a couple of days before the end of the season, and Mondal’s side took an early lead in the 13th minute.
East Bengal were trailing at half-time but levelled early in the second half through Ezzejjari, with Rashid scoring the winner around the 70th minute to secure three points and the 2025-26 ISL title. Shortly after the final whistle, East Bengal fans stormed the pitch to celebrate with the players and Oscar Bruzon’s coaching staff, who delivered the club’s first top-tier league title in almost 22 years.
On paper, the upcoming fixture is expected to favour East Bengal, who are described as possessing a far superior squad and a head coach who took four key players from the Inter Kashi team that challenged them last season. Inter Kashi FC won: 0 East Bengal FC won: 01.
The ISL match at Balewadi Stadium kicks off at 17:00 IST on 23 October; East Bengal will then take on Al-Seeb in two Champions League matches following this fixture.
