Punjab FC have announced a 24-member squad for IFA Shield 2026, featuring six new players and four foreign recruits under new head coach Pavlos Dermitzakis.

Punjab FC have announced their 24-member squad for the IFA Shield 2026, with the Shers set to begin their campaign against Calcutta Customs Club in Kolkata on September 27. The squad includes six new players and marks the first IFA Shield selection under new head coach Pavlos Dermitzakis. Punjab FC have been placed in Group II alongside East Bengal FC and Calcutta Customs Club.

New-look squad features four foreign recruits

Punjab FC’s squad consists of 20 Indian players and four foreign players. The overseas contingent includes new signings Patrick Gerard Bahanack, Diego Raposo, Alfred Planas Moya and Raphael Messi Bouli.

New foreign signing Bahanack has added to the defensive unit and will feature alongside Muhammad Uvais, Karish Soram, Ngarin Shaiza, Suresh Meitei, Mohammed Sohel Khan and Bishu Sharma.

The midfield department includes Khaiminthang Lhungdim, Nikhil Prabhu, Rishikanta Meitei, Arshvir Singh, Mohammad Inam and Manglenthang Kipgen. The squad also has Arshdeep Singh, Muheet Shabir and Ayush Deshwal as its goalkeeping options.

The attacking unit has been strengthened by Raposo, Planas Moya and Messi Bouli. They will be joined by Muhammad Suhail, Konsam Sanathoi Singh, Bikash Singh Sagolsem, Vishal Yadav and Gurkirat Singh.

Dermitzakis begins tenure with Shield campaign

The IFA Shield will also provide Pavlos Dermitzakis with an early opportunity to assess his squad after taking charge of Punjab FC. The head coach will work alongside Technical Director Georgios Angelidis and Assistant Coach Sankarlal Chakraborty.

The coaching and support staff also includes Strength and Conditioning Coach Christos Vorgiatzidis and Goalkeeping Coach Vinay Singh, while Sidak Dhillon will serve as the team doctor. Disharth Jain has been appointed physiotherapist, with Kaustuv Kashyap as team manager and Ganesh Dalui as team masseur.

Punjab FC will open their IFA Shield campaign against Calcutta Customs Club on September 27 at 3 pm. They will then face East Bengal FC on September 30 at 3 pm. Both fixtures will be part of the Group II campaign as the club looks to make an impact in the tournament with a revamped squad and coaching setup.