Kannur Warriors FC v Thrissur Magic FC: Super League Kerala opener in Kannur on 25 September 2026
Kannur Warriors FC will play Thrissur Magic FC at Jawahar Municipal Stadium in Kannur on 25 September 2026 in the opening match of Super League Kerala 2026. Kick-off is scheduled for 8 PM IST with pre-match performances due to start at 6 PM IST, and the game will be streamed on Zee 5 and broadcast on Unite 8 Sports, with Etisalat handling coverage in the UAE.
Super League Kerala 2026 begins on 25 September 2026 and features the same six clubs that took part in 2025: Kannur Warriors FC, Thrissur Magic FC, Calicut FC, Thiruvananthapuram Kombans FC, Forca Kochi FC and Malappuram FC. Kannur Warriors enter the tournament as the reigning SLK champions from 2025 while Thrissur Magic were the runners-up in the 2025 final.
Kannur Warriors are aiming to begin their title defence with a win and will do so under a new head coach, Andrey Chernyshov. Chernyshov previously managed Thrissur Magic in the Super League Kerala 2025-26 season and led that side to the final after the team had finished last in the tournament’s inaugural season.
Thrissur Magic have made multiple signings ahead of the new campaign, notably Henry Plazas, Sergio Gil, Suhas PM, Mohammed Niyaj K and Abdul Samad PP. Following the departure of Andrey Chernyshov, Thrissur appointed Spanish head coach David Caneda; Caneda has previously managed in Cyprus and El Salvador and served as assistant manager at Valencia CF. The club regards the opening fixture as an early test of Caneda’s suitability for Kerala football.
The match will be played at Jawahar Municipal Stadium, Kannur, with pre-match activities from 6 PM IST and the official kick-off at 8 PM IST. The fixture is the first game of the SLK 2026 schedule and pits the 2025 winners against the 2025 runners-up.
Broadcast arrangements for the opening match see digital streaming on Zee 5 and live transmission on Unite 8 Sports, while Etisalat will broadcast the fixture in the UAE. Fans across India can watch Super League Kerala 2026 matches digitally on Zee5 alongside linear coverage on Unite8 Sports, and viewers in the UAE can follow the entire competition via Etisalat.
The opening match of Super League Kerala 2026 between Kannur Warriors FC and Thrissur Magic FC kicks off at 8 PM IST on 25 September 2026; for further updates follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join their community on Whatsapp & Telegram.