Real Kashmir host IFL debutants Nagaland United at TRC Stadium on October 30
Real Kashmir FC will host Nagaland United SC in the opening match of the Indian Football League (IFL) 2026-27 season at the TRC Stadium in Srinagar on Friday, 30 October 2026, with kickoff at 18:30 IST. The fixture will be Nagaland United’s first match in the national league and the season’s curtain-raiser.
The IFL, described in the preview as the second tier beneath the Indian Super League, expands to 11 teams for 2026-27 with promotion to the ISL at stake. The new season sees Nagaland United, Bengaluru United and Odisha’s Samaleswari SC making their IFL debuts while Mohammedan SC return to the competition after relegation from the ISL. The campaign is scheduled to begin on 30 October 2026.
Real Kashmir arrive having recovered from a difficult 2025-26 start: under head coach Ishfaq Ahmed they surged in the relegation phase with three straight wins, including a 3–0 victory over Gokulam Kerala FC and a 2–1 win against Aizawl FC, finishing that phase on top with 14 points. The club has made 13 new signings ahead of 2026-27, with additions such as Susnata Malick and Mohit Mittal (both from Diamond Harbour FC) and forward Marcus Joseph among the incoming players.
Nagaland United was founded in 2024 in Chümoukedima, Dimapur and gained entry to the IFL through a goodwill agreement with Aizawl FC approved by the All India Football Federation on 9 September 2026, under which Nagaland United acquired Aizawl’s sporting rights. The club will field a young, locally focused squad and has appointed Kaizad Ambapardiwalla as head coach; Kaizad served as head coach of Jamshedpur FC during their quarterfinal run in the Durand Cup 2026.
Defender Rohmingthanga will captain Nagaland United; he won the Best Player award at the Independence Day Football Tournament 2026 while with Aizawl FC and has a career path that began in the Aizawl FC academy, included a spell at Sudeva Delhi FC and a return to Aizawl where he captained the side to two trophies. The preview notes Rohmingthanga’s commanding presence in the box, ability to read opposition play and strengths in positioning and tackling.
Both clubs are reported to have full squads available, aside from any unspecified injuries, and will meet for the first time in competitive play as Real Kashmir face the IFL newcomers. The match is set as the opening game of the new campaign and will be played at Srinagar’s TRC Stadium.
The IFL 2026-27 opener between Real Kashmir FC and Nagaland United SC kicks off at 18:30 IST on 30 October 2026 and will be broadcast live on DD Sports with live streaming available on Waves OTT.