ISL 2026-27 Phase 1 fixtures: Kerala Blasters to open away at Inter Kashi on October 11

Kerala Blasters FC will start their Indian Super League (ISL) 2026-27 campaign away at Inter Kashi on October 11, 2026, following publication of the Phase 1 fixtures. The league is due to begin on October 10, 2026, and will return to a home-and-away double round-robin format.

The ISL reverted to the traditional double round-robin home-away structure this season after that format was scrapped last year citing the uncertainties. The competition will use a playoff system with the top six teams from the group stage advancing to the postseason; the team finishing top of the table at the end of the group stage will be named ISL Shield Winners and the winners of the finals will be declared Champions. Despite earlier speculation about shifting their base to Malappuram or Kozhikode, Kerala Blasters have confirmed all home matches will be played at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi.

Kerala Blasters’ Phase 1 programme runs from October 11, 2026, to January 16, 2027, and comprises 12 matches in total: five at home and seven away. The loading of fixtures is front‑loaded in October with four matches, drops to a single fixture in November because of the scheduled FIFA international window break, rises again to four matches in December and finishes with three matches in January.

The Blasters open on October 11 at Inter Kashi, then travel to Guwahati to face NorthEast United FC on October 18. Their first home game is scheduled for October 25 against Mumbai City FC at Kochi, and October ends with a trip to play Chennaiyin FC on October 31.

Kerala Blasters have only one match in November, against FC Goa at the Fatorda Stadium. In December they play three consecutive home fixtures on December 6, 10 and 14 against Churchill Brothers, Sporting Delhi and Punjab FC respectively, before travelling to Bhubaneswar to meet Odisha FC on December 20 as their final game of 2026.

Phase 1 resumes in January with a southern derby at Bengaluru FC on January 3, followed by a January 10 meeting with Mohun Bagan Super Giants at the VYBK. The Blasters conclude the phase with a fixture against the reigning ISL champions, East Bengal FC. Ashley Westwood remains the head coach, having continued with the team after being appointed mid-season in the 25-26 ISL.

Kerala Blasters’ immediate next match is on October 11, 2026, away at Inter Kashi, with the ISL season officially starting the day prior on October 10, 2026.