ISL 2026-27: Mumbai City FC reveal Phase 1 fixtures as season approaches

On September 28, 2026 the Indian Super League published the Phase 1 fixtures for the 2026-27 season, detailing Mumbai City FC’s schedule for the opening months and confirming the club will start on October 11 away to Churchill Brothers. The fixtures released cover only the first phase; the remaining matches and the playoff schedule will be announced later.

Mumbai begin with three consecutive away fixtures: October 11 at ISL debutants Churchill Brothers, then trips to Delhi to face Punjab FC and to Kochi to play Kerala Blasters. Mumbai have no home games in October because the Mumbai Football Arena is subject to blackout dates, including MLBx: Mumbai on October 24, an event that will feature MLB stars alongside Suryakumar Yadav and live entertainment. Negotiations with the BMC resulted in Mumbai’s first Mumbai Football Arena fixture being scheduled for November 1, a 5 PM home game against Sporting Club Delhi.

After the Sporting Club Delhi match, Mumbai travel to Bengaluru and finish November by hosting Chennaiyin FC. The club’s November schedule includes a 5 PM weekday kick-off on Monday, November 30, against Chennaiyin FC. For Manolo Márquez’s side, that sequence of fixtures means the opening month will be defined by travel followed by a concentrated block of home matches.

December opens with an away trip to FC Goa on December 5, and December 13 starts a stretch of home games at the Mumbai Football Arena. East Bengal, Mohun Bagan and Inter Kashi are all scheduled to visit Mumbai before the end of December, with Inter Kashi set to kick off at 5 PM on Monday, December 21.

The fixture list presents a scheduling anomaly: Mumbai are the only team in the first phase with three weekday fixtures set for a 5 PM start—against Chennaiyin FC on Monday, November 30; Mohun Bagan on Thursday, December 17; and Inter Kashi on Monday, December 21—while no other side has more than one weekday fixture at that time. The majority of first-phase matches were scheduled on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays following feedback from fans, making Mumbai’s three weekday afternoon kick-offs stand out.

Mumbai will have five away games in the first phase, at Churchill Brothers, Punjab FC, Kerala Blasters, Bengaluru FC and FC Goa, and seven of their 12 announced fixtures will be played at the Mumbai Football Arena. The Islanders are scheduled to play only one 7:30 PM home fixture in this phase, on January 12 when Odisha FC travel to Mumbai, and their final home game of the first phase is set for January 17 against NorthEast United at 7:30 PM.

With the complete calendar still pending, Mumbai City FC will begin their campaign on October 11, away against ISL debutants Churchill Brothers.