Kolkata, February 28: After months of uncertainty and restructuring, the second top Indian domestic football, the Indian Football League, finally kicked off the 2025–26 season yesterday. Featuring 10 clubs, the new campaign begins under a revamped two-stage format aimed at increasing competitiveness and maintaining sporting integrity throughout the season.
As per the proposal approved by the participating clubs, Stage 1 will see all 10 teams compete in a single home-and-away round-robin league. Following this, the league will split into two groups for Stage 2. The top five teams from Stage 1 will advance to a home-and-away championship round, while the remaining five will contest a centralised relegation round. Crucially, all points accumulated in Stage 1 will carry forward, ensuring that early-season performances continue to matter.
The team finishing top of the championship round will be crowned Indian Football League champions and earn promotion to the Indian Super League 2026–27.
Attention now turns to Kolkata side, where newly promoted Diamond Harbour FC are set to kick off their first-ever Indian Football League campaign today. Coached by the renowned name of the league Kibu Vicuna, the Kolkata-based side host Sreenidhi Deccan FC in their opening fixture.
Fresh from a championship-winning season in the lower division, Diamond Harbour FC arrive with confidence, and the ambition to establish themselves at the national level.
For DHFC head coach, the return of the league is about perspective more than pressure. The long wait, the uncertainty, and the doubts have shaped a calm, grounded mindset. With football finally back, the focus shifts to equality, belief, and being fully ready from the very first moment.
“We waited a long time, faced uncertainty, and even doubted if the competition would begin. Now football is back, and that’s what matters. Every team starts equal, and every match demands focus and belief. We have prepared patiently, and we are ready to give everything from the first whistle”
said Kibu Vicuna.
The fixture will be played at the Kalyani Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 6:30 PM IST. In their home the debutants expected to make a strong statement on opening eve.
Where to watch Indian Football League 2025-26
Live streaming of the Indian Football League 2025-26 will be available on the Waves OTT app and Prasar Bharati Sports YouTube channel in India. Live telecast of the Indian Football League will be broadcast on the DD Sports TV channel in India.
Indian Football League 2025–26 Fixtures:
28 Feb 2026
06:30 PM — Diamond Harbour FC vs Sreenidi Deccan FC
Kalyani Stadium
01 Mar 2026
04:00 PM — Dempo SC vs Real Kashmir FC
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium
06:30 PM — Shillong Lajong FC vs Rajasthan United FC
SSA Stadium
06 Mar 2026
06:30 PM — Aizawl FC vs Rajasthan United FC
Rajiv Gandhi Stadium
07 Mar 2026
04:00 PM — Gokulam Kerala FC vs Namdhari Sports Academy
Payyanad Stadium
06:30 PM — Chanmari FC (Aizawl) vs Sreenidi Deccan FC
Rajiv Gandhi Stadium
08 Mar 2026
04:00 PM — Diamond Harbour FC vs Dempo SC
Naihati Bankimanjali Stadium
06:30 PM — Shillong Lajong FC vs Real Kashmir FC
SSA Stadium
12 Mar 2026
06:30 PM — Chanmari FC (Aizawl) vs Dempo SC
Rajiv Gandhi Stadium
13 Mar 2026
04:00 PM — Rajasthan United FC vs Namdhari Sports Academy
Vidhyadhar Nagar Stadium
06:30 PM — Aizawl FC vs Real Kashmir FC
Rajiv Gandhi Stadium
14 Mar 2026
04:00 PM — Gokulam Kerala FC vs Sreenidi Deccan FC
Payyanad Stadium
06:30 PM — Shillong Lajong FC vs Diamond Harbour FC
SSA Stadium
17 Mar 2026
04:00 PM — Rajasthan United FC vs Real Kashmir FC
Vidhyadhar Nagar Stadium
19 Mar 2026
04:00 PM — Chanmari FC (Aizawl) vs Shillong Lajong FC
Rajiv Gandhi Stadium
06:30 PM — Sreenidi Deccan FC vs Namdhari Sports Academy
Deccan Arena
20 Mar 2026
04:00 PM — Aizawl FC vs Diamond Harbour FC
Rajiv Gandhi Stadium
06:30 PM — Gokulam Kerala FC vs Dempo SC
Payyanad Stadium
24 Mar 2026
06:30 PM — Aizawl FC vs Chanmari FC (Aizawl)
Rajiv Gandhi Stadium
25 Mar 2026
04:00 PM — Real Kashmir FC vs Namdhari Sports Academy
TRC Stadium
06:30 PM — Sreenidi Deccan FC vs Dempo SC
Deccan Arena
26 Mar 2026
04:00 PM — Rajasthan United FC vs Diamond Harbour FC
Vidhyadhar Nagar Stadium
06:30 PM — Gokulam Kerala FC vs Shillong Lajong FC
Payyanad Stadium
31 Mar 2026
06:30 PM — Gokulam Kerala FC vs Aizawl FC
Payyanad Stadium
01 Apr 2026
04:00 PM — Rajasthan United FC vs Chanmari FC (Aizawl)
Vidhyadhar Nagar Stadium
06:30 PM — Sreenidi Deccan FC vs Shillong Lajong FC
Deccan Arena
02 Apr 2026
04:00 PM — Real Kashmir FC vs Diamond Harbour FC
TRC Stadium
06:30 PM — Dempo SC vs Namdhari Sports Academy
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium
05 Apr 2026
06:30 PM — Sreenidi Deccan FC vs Aizawl FC
Deccan Arena.
06 Apr 2026
04:00 PM — Namdhari Sports Academy vs Diamond Harbour FC
Namdhari Football Stadium
06:30 PM — Real Kashmir FC vs Chanmari FC (Aizawl)
TRC Stadium
07 Apr 2026
04:00 PM — Rajasthan United FC vs Gokulam Kerala FC
Vidhyadhar Nagar Stadium
06:30 PM — Dempo SC vs Shillong Lajong FC
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium
10 Apr 2026
06:30 PM — Namdhari Sports Academy vs Shillong Lajong FC
Namdhari Football Stadium
11 Apr 2026
04:00 PM — Dempo SC vs Aizawl FC
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium
06:30 PM — Diamond Harbour FC vs Chanmari FC (Aizawl)
Naihati Bankimanjali Stadium
12 Apr 2026
04:00 PM — Real Kashmir FC vs Gokulam Kerala FC
TRC Stadium
06:30 PM — Sreenidi Deccan FC vs Rajasthan United FC
Deccan Arena
17 Apr 2026
06:30 PM — Namdhari Sports Academy vs Chanmari FC (Aizawl)
Namdhari Football Stadium
18 Apr 2026
04:00 PM — Diamond Harbour FC vs Gokulam Kerala FC
Naihati Bankimanjali Stadium
06:30 PM — Shillong Lajong FC vs Aizawl FC
SSA Stadium
19 Apr 2026
04:00 PM — Dempo SC vs Rajasthan United FC
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium
06:30 PM — Real Kashmir FC vs Sreenidi Deccan FC
TRC Stadium
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