After 22 years of waiting, East Bengal finally claimed their first top-flight title, securing their maiden ISL honour since joining the league in 2020. The triumph was sweeter as they ended their rivals Mohun Bagan’s two-year league dominance by beating them on goal difference during a truncated season plagued by uncertainty and delay. Yet, the winning team took a hit as star player Miguel Ferreira switched colours to Green and Maroon, but the headline departure was that of manager Oscar Bruzon. The Spaniard made his intentions clear well before the title victory, citing disagreements with the management, a controversy that is still ongoing even after his departure, leaving the hot seat vacant. However, the Red and Gold only gained strength and added to their confidence by appointing the most successful manager in the league, Antonio Lopez Habas, to defend their title.
His impact was immediate. Despite losing the first competitive game against his old side, the ex-Mariners boss guided his present team to a historic 4-1 victory in the Kolkata Derby rematch in the final to end a long drought for the Durand Cup trophy. Not only that, but Habas also managed the team to a memorable 2-2 away draw against Jordanian club Al Hussein in their AFC Champions League 2 opener. Now, the focus turns to the ISL. With smart signings, both Indian and foreign contingents, added to the existing core of last season’s winning squad, East Bengal are looking more dangerous than ever. It is time for the Red and Gold to prove it on the pitch. Their 2026-27 ISL campaign will start a little later than the rest owing to their AFC commitments.
East Bengal FC’s campaign begins against Churchill Brothers, whom they will face for the first time since the I-League days, with the Goan giants acquiring Jamshedpur FC’s licence, at Fatorda on 18 October 2026 in an afternoon kick-off. The next game against Inter Kashi, also one of Habas’s ex-clubs, five days later, is a repeat of the title-deciding fixture played on ṭhe final day of last season. The first three games of the season for the Red and Golds are all away games. Their first assignment at home does not arrive until November, when Sporting Club Delhi visits the Salt Lake Stadium on the 20th of the month following the international break. The very next match will be a huge one as the first ISL Kolkata derby of the season will roll out on 29 November 2026. East Bengal will end their first half of the league campaign with another tricky fixture as they will take on Kerala Blasters mid-January in the New Year.
Here is the full fixture list of East Bengal for the first half of the ISL 2026-27 season:
October 2026
Sunday, 18 October 2026
Churchill Brothers vs East Bengal FC - Fatorda Stadium, Goa (17:00)
Friday, 23 October 2026
Inter Kashi vs East Bengal FC - TBC (17:00)
November 2026
Saturday, 7 November 2026
Chennaiyin FC vs East Bengal FC - Marina Arena, Chennai (19:30)
Friday, 20 November 2026
East Bengal FC vs SC Delhi - Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata (17:00)
Tuesday, 29 November 2026
East Bengal FC vs Mohun Bagan SG - Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata (19:30)
December 2026
Friday, 4 December 2026
East Bengal FC vs Punjab FC - Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata (19:30)
Saturday, 12 December 2026
Mumbai City FC vs East Bengal FC - Mumbai Football Arena, Mumbai (17:00)
Thursday, 17 December 2026
Bengaluru FC vs East Bengal FC - Sree Kanteraava Stadium, Bengaluru (19:30)
Monday, 21 December 2026
East Bengal FC vs Northeast United FC - Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata (19:30)
January 2027
Sunday, 3 January 2027
East Bengal FC vs Odisha FC - Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata (17:00)
Saturday, 9 January 2027
East Bengal FC vs FC Goa - Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata (17:00)
Monday, 16 January 2027
Kerala Blasters vs East Bengal FC - Kaloor Stadium, Kochi (19:30)
East Bengal Remaining AFC Champions League Two Fixtures
Tuesday, 13 October 2026
East Bengal vs Al-Shorta
Tuesday, 27 October 2026
Al-Seeb vs East Bengal
Tuesday, 3 November 2026
East Bengal vs Al-Seeb
Tuesday, 24 November 2026
East Bengal vs Al Hussein
Tuesday, 8 December 2026
Al-Shorta vs East Bengal