Rajasthan United and Sreenidi Deccan to play in IFL opening weekend
The Indian Football League season concludes its opening weekend on Sunday with a double-header in Jaipur and Margao.
The opening weekend of the Indian Football League (IFL) 2026-27 season will conclude on Sunday, November 1, according to The Tribune. The final matches of the weekend feature a double-header involving three top-six finishers from the previous season and a promoted side.
Rajasthan United FC will host Sreenidi Deccan FC at the Vidyadhar Nagar Stadium in Jaipur at 16:00 IST. Later, five-time national champions Dempo Sports Club will face IFL debutants FC Bengaluru United at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Margao, Goa, at 18:30 IST.
Sreenidi Deccan FC finished third in the 2025-26 standings with 26 points from 14 matches. Rajasthan United FC finished fourth last season with 18 points from 14 matches. Both clubs previously qualified for the Championship Round.
Rajasthan United FC is now led by Italian head coach Giuseppe Cristaldi and has added players including Adri Castellano, Harmanjot Khabra, Diego Maurício, Pedro Astray, Pangambam Naoba Meitei, and Thomyo Shimray. Sreenidi Deccan FC is under Spanish head coach Antonio Rueda and has signed Pritam Kotal, Pronay Halder, Nishu Kumar, and Jerry Mawihmingthanga.
FC Bengaluru United enters the league for the first time after finishing as runners-up in the 2025-26 I-League 2 season. The club is coached by former India international Nallappan Mohanraj and captained by Lalramdinsanga Ralte.