East Bengal FC want to replace their every season’s tale of failing to meet their standards in the Indian Super League as they are set for an intriguing 2025-26 season. The Red and Golds have failed to get into the top six of the league, let alone challenge for the Winner’s Shield or the ISL Cup, since they entered the competition in 2020, a disappointing season they want to end once and for all. The club has shown promise in their transfer business and also with their performances in the cup competitions, even though they lost two finals, albeit on penalties. In his first full season in charge, Oscar Bruzon will be determined to get the century-old club back to its glory days.
Pre-season
The Torchbearers made two incredible runs in the IFA Shield and Super Cup finals last year after being eliminated from the semifinals of the Durand Cup, but had to settle for a runners-up medal each time. Despite taking the lead against their city rivals, Mohun Bagan, they ultimately got beaten on penalties in the IFA Shield showpiece after it remained 1-1 following extra-time. A fate that they unwillingly repeated in their third Super Cup final, where FC Goa triumphed from the spot after holding them to a goalless draw. Yet the side remained unbeaten, excluding shootouts, in both competitions with a striking solidity in conceding just four goals throughout. At the same time, they scored 16 goals. The club also played two friendlies in the weeks leading up to the competition against I-League outfit Sreenidi Deccan and then against fellow Kolkata giants Mohammedan SC.
East Bengal ISL 2025-26 Signings
IN: Jay Gupta, Edmund Lalrindika, Martand Raina, Miguel Figueira, Mohammed Rashid, Kevin Sibille, Bipin Singh, Ramsanga, Youssef Ezzejjari
OUT: Dimitrios Diamantakos, Madih Talal, Richard Celis, Raphaël Messi Bouli, Hijazi Maher, Nishu Kumar, Mark Zothanpuia, Gursimrat Singh Gill, Héctor Yuste, Hamid Ahadad (signed then released), Hiroshi Ibusuki (signed then released)
The Red and Gold have again gone for significant changes to their squad with key additions to every area of the pitch. The striker position needed to be filled after Dimitrios Diamantakos was released abruptly, leading to both Hiroshi Ibusuki and Hamid Ahadad's signings. However, both left the club for different reasons, which forced them to turn to another striker, Youssef Ezzejjari, to spearhead the attack. Other exciting acquisitions include Jay Gupta, Edmund Lalrindika, Bipin Singh, Jerry Mawihmingthanga and the most eye-catching of all, Miguel Figueira. Mohammed Rashid in midfield and Kevin Sibille at the back already looks like the transfer that hits the bullseye. The club has parted ways with Richard Celis, Raphaël Messi Bouli, Mark Zothanpuia, Gursimrat Singh Gill, Héctor Yuste and Madih Talal after they failed to meet the expectations, whereas Hijazi Maher and Nishu Kumar took offers elsewhere.
East Bengal ISL 2025-26 Squad
Goalkeepers: Prabhsukhan Gill, Debjit Majumder, Gourab Shaw
Defenders: Mohammad Rakip, Provat Lakra, Anwar Ali, Lalchungnunga, Kevin Sibille (foreigner), Martand Raina, Jay Gupta
Midfielders: Jeakson Singh, Mahesh Naorem, Nandhakumar Sekar, Saúl Crespo (foreigner), Souvick Chakraborty, Edmund Lalrindika, Tanmay Das, PV Vishnu, Ramsanga, Aman C. K, Miguel Figueira (foreigner), Mohammed Rashid (foreigner)
Forwards: Bipin Singh, David Lalhlansanga, Youssef Ezzejjari (foreigner), Jesin TK, Jerry Mawihmingthanga, Sayan Banerjee
Head Coach: Oscar Bruzon
How will East Bengal lineup for the ISL 2025-26 season?
Oscar Bruzon have used a compact 4-5-1 against strong opposition in the Super Cup while also deploying a 4-4-2 last season. Regardless, solidity will be the main priority for the team in the coming season, as they cannot afford to wobble defensively anymore. Kevin Sibille and Anwar Ali's partnership stood like a rock in the cup competition and they are expected to play an important role in East Bengal’s reversal, while Mohammad Rakip looks to be the mainstay at right back now that Nishu Kumar has departed. There will be a major change at the left-back position, the club’s weak point over the seasons, with one of the country’s best, Jay Gupta, filling in. However, it is the midfield that looks to be the strongest area for the side, with adequate depth.
While Mohammed Rashid has been a regular for the side, the constraints for foreigners in a starting eleven mean the Red and Gold have to go for an Indian holding midfielder, which could be Jeakson Singh or Souvick Chakraborty. Saul Crespo will be deployed as a box-to-box player as usual, while the creator-in-chief, Miguel Figueira, could operate from the left, combining with Mahesh Naorem. Once Mumbai City star, Bipin Singh is the industrial winger on the right, while Jerry Mawihmingthanga, Sayan Banerjee, PV Vishnu and Nandhakumar are ideal backups on each flank. There are still question marks on the striker position as it is not known whether 32-year-old Ezzejjari could be a predator in the box, but the club has the talent of David Lalhlansanga and Edmund Lalrindika to utilise properly.
East Bengal ISL schedule for the 2025-26 season
February 2026
Monday, 16 February 2026
East Bengal vs NorthEast United - Kishore Bharoti Krinangan, Kolkata (19:30)
Saturday, 21 February 2026
East Bengal vs SC Delhi - Kishore Bharoti Krinangan, Kolkata (17:00)
Friday, 27 February 2026
East Bengal vs Jamshedpur FC - Kishore Bharoti Krinangan, Kolkata (17:00)
East Bengal will play the majority of their games in the truncated season at home, with Kishore Bharoti Krinangan as their venue. The first six games, including their season opener against NorthEast United on 16th February 2026, will begin there with new side Sporting Club Delhi and Jamshedpur FC as the rest of the visitors in the opening month.
March 2026
Thursday, 5 March 2026
East Bengal vs FC Goa - Kishore Bharoti Krinangan, Kolkata (17:00)
Saturday, 14 March 2026
East Bengal vs Kerala Blasters - Kishore Bharoti Krinangan, Kolkata (17:00)
Saturday, 21 March 2026
East Bengal vs Mohammedan - Kishore Bharoti Krinangan, Kolkata (17:00)
The second month of the season will be much more challenging for the Red and Golds, with FC Goa and Kerala Blasters to face in back-to-back games. Despite the squad strength being significantly reduced due to the ISL crisis, they are a strong unit to face. It will be a repeat of the Super Cup final last year against the Gaurs, so revenge will be on the cards, while they want to level themselves in the head-to-head record against the Blasters with a victory. East Bengal closed March 2026 with the mini Kolkata derby against an all-Indian Mohammedan Sporting.
April 2026
Saturday, 11 April 2026
Chennaiyin FC vs East Bengal - Marina Arena, Chennai (17:00)
Thursday, 16 April 2026
East Bengal vs Bengaluru FC - Kishore Bharoti Krinangan, Kolkata (19:30)
Friday, 24 April 2026
East Bengal vs Punjab FC - Kishore Bharoti Krinangan, Kolkata (19:30)
Tuesday, 28 April 2026
East Bengal vs Odisha FC - Kishore Bharoti Krinangan, Kolkata (19:30)
The Torchbearers will play their first away game of the season in April 2026, with a trip to Marina Arena to face Chennaiyin FC, hoping to carry their four-game unbeaten streak against them in all competitions. The three straight home games following that will have considerable challenges in the form of Bengaluru FC, Punjab FC and Odisha FC, although nothing that will be trouble for Oscar Bruzon’s men, especially the latter two.
May 2026
Sunday, 3 May 2026
Mohun Bagan vs East Bengal - Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata (19:30)
Friday, 8 May 2026
Mumbai City vs East Bengal - TBD (19:30)
Tuesday, 17 May 2026
Inter Kashi vs East Bengal - TBD (TBD)
The final month of the season will start with a bang as East Bengal will lock horns with their eternal rivals, Mohun Bagan, in the electrifying Kolkata derby at the Salt Lake Stadium. While the side has been successful in this fixture in cup competitions recently, apart from the IFA Shield final loss, they are yet to beat the Green and Maroons in the league, managing just one draw and losing the rest of the eight played in the ISL. The 2024 Super Cup winners end their campaign with back-to-back away games, first a trip to Mumbai, then playing the concluding game against Inter Kashi on 17th May 2026.
East Bengal ISL 2025-26 Prediction
The 2025-26 season in a truncated format offers a lot of advantages to the East Bengal side that has been largely stable during the ISL crisis. While their rivals, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, have retained their strengths and are only able to increase their chances with the appointment of star manager Sergio Lobera, other sides have been severely affected by the ISL delay. It has caused a player exodus and disruption in squad building for even the top teams in the league, a situation that might not be possible in a regular campaign. It seems the Red and Gold have also done a good piece of transfer business after a long time and have a better and more balanced squad than most for the upcoming season, with a longer preparation time.
Their schedule also hugely prefers them as they play the majority of the shortened season at home, even if it is not in their familiar Salt Lake Stadium, but in Kishore Bharoti. Their defence also look unshakable, which will be a big factor for them this season. However, they have a few question marks on the number nine position as they are pinning everything on an aged striker, which might cause hindrance as their goal source has been mostly from the wings or midfield. Still, East Bengal looks to be in a more confident position than they ever were before, with anything less than a battle for the top spot or a top-two finish should be regarded as a huge failure.
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