Following an action-filled opening round of games of the 2025-26 season, a much wanted one after the crisis of the league's standoff, the second match week hopes to carry on the excitement with some top ties lined up. Also, Odisha FC will start their campaign in this round after their ISL opener got postponed due to stadium unavailability which they have since confirmed on 18 February 2026. Hence, every club will be in action with the season properly starting from these rounds of games.
Mohammedan SC vs FC Goa - Kishore Bharoti Krinangan, Kolkata (Friday, 20 February 2026 - 19:30)
Forced to play with an all-Indian squad due to the transfer ban, Mohammedan SC will be taking positives from suffering just a 1-0 defeat to a quality foreigner filled Jamshedpur FC who have got their Shield winning coach, Owen Coyle back in the dugout. The goal they conceded also came from a selected effort so they will be pleased about containing the Men of Steels at their den and draw inspiration that they can still be a solid unit. However, Mehrajuddin Wadoo's side failed to register a single shot on target and overall looked toothless in the attack. The lack of scoring edge will be detrimental too with no foreigners and no proper number nine. The Black Panthers will be desperate to change that in their first home game of the season. They drew 1-1 with Gaurs in the last league meeting in Kolkata and also beat them 3-1 at home in 2022 Durand Cup but the situation was obviously very different for the team in both of those occasions.
It wasn't a winning start for FC Goa either as they required a 84th minute penalty from Dejan Drazic coming from an error from Inter Kashi goalkeeper that got him sent-off to rescue an impending defeat at the Fatorda Stadium. The promoted side under Antonio Lopez Habas put up a commendable performance and it was a worry for the Super Cup winners to not make more of their possessions and superior chances. With the squad severely affected by the league delay but the objective of the season already secured with their Cup victory, it seems the side lack motivation in the truncated campaign. However, Manolo Marquez will be urging his side to make a topmost finish to continue their fantastic work done under the Spaniard with a chance to complete an unprecedented feat of winning the Super Cup and the ISL Shield in the same season. A victory to open their account in the season against the weakest side in their first away game will be an ideal way to begin that journey.
Prediction: Mohammedan 0-1 FC Goa
East Bengal vs SC Delhi - Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata (Saturday, 21 February 2026 - 17:00)
For the first since joining the ISL in 2020, East Bengal secured a victory in their league opener and in some style. The new signings shone in the dominating 3-0 victory against NorthEast United at Salt Lake Stadium with Youssef Ezzejjari scoring a stunning brace, clearing the initial doubts on the 32-year-old striker, while Miguel Ferreira scored the settler in stoppage time. Bipin Singh also provided an assist in his first ISL appearance since leaving Mumbai City FC while Mohammed Rashid impact in midfield was immeasurable. Jeakson Singh also replaced the injured Kevin Sibille adequately in defence. In all, the Red and Gold looked like a functional unit after a long time and the win was a statement to show that they will mount a proper challenge after years of disappointment. To ensure it, Oscar Bruzon's men would want to establish a streak and there will be no better chance to build it at a time when they play five home games on the trot.
Their visitors Sporting Club Delhi also came off a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Bengaluru FC to start off their first ISL season since rebranding from Hyderabad FC so it gives them an opportunity to claim back to back wins. That will put further pressure on Tomas Tchroz's team as in a truncated season with each team playing just 13 games offers a very limited period to change things around if the start isn't good. SC Delhi were clearly the second best team in Kanteerava as they managed just one shot on target from three shots and if not for their goalkeeper Vishal Yadav, the scoreline could have looked worse. The lack of ISL experience of the squad showed up with relying solely on the youngsters to deliver became a tall task. They will now make another daunting trip to face an in-form East Bengal team and have a difficult schedule overall, wit two more away games against FC Goa and Mumbai City FC after this.
Prediction: East Bengal 2-0 SC Delhi
Jamshedpur FC vs Punjab FC - The Furnace, Jamshedpur (Saturday, 21 February 2026 - 19:30)
Jamshedpur FC started the 2025-26 season with a win against Mohammedan SC but would have wanted more than just a 1-0 margin considering the strength of the opposition. Madih Talal scored the only goal of the game with his strike taking a big chunk of deflection to rest in the net even though the Men of Steel registered 14 shots with three on target. The side has shown ambition in bringing back their Shield winning coach Owen Coyle to build on their good work done under his predecessor Khalid Jamil. Hence, the team will look forward to being more clinical. Nevertheless, with successive home games at the start of the season, making it two out of two would be vital for Coyle's men in these early exchanges. To double the advantage, Jamshedpur FC have won every single game against Punjab FC, their next visitors to the Furnace, since the Shers got promoted to ISL in 2023. They will hope to continue the momentum in a fixture they carry an overly positive record.
Punjab FC season opener against Odisha FC was postponed to a later date so their game against Jamshedpur FC is now their opening game of the campaign. The Shers are a completely different side than last season in terms of foreigners as they have replaced them all with new faces while also letting go of some star Indian players like their fullback Tekcham Abhishek Singh. However, they have stuck with their head coach Panagiotis Dilmperis to ensure stability in the management process. The chop and change indicates the club want to do better than finishing outside of the top six in their two seasons in the ISL. However, the truncated season brings a different kind of challenge with fewer games to prove themselves adding to the pressure of delivering. Punjab FC also play a delayed season opener where they are only getting started while their opponents Jamshedpur FC already have momentum. Still, the Shers will be determined to prove themselves even without any records backing them.
Prediction: Jamshedpur FC 2-1 Punjab FC
Bengaluru FC vs NorthEast United - Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru (Sunday, 22 February 2026 - 17:00)
'Captain Leader Legend' Sunil Chhetri continues to deliver for Bengaluru FC as he became the oldest scorer in ISL history in the side's comfortable 2-0 victory against Sporting Club Delhi at the Kanteerava at the age of 41 years and 196 days. This is the Blue's talisman's 11th season in a row in the competition with his scoring instinct not aged a bit as he wrapped the victory with a fine finish in stoppage time after Siva Sakhti Narayanan gave the lead on the stroke of half-time. Despite not being at their absolute best, a winning start to the 2025-26 season is a welcoming thing for the side that has faced peril due to the ISL delay and also closed down operations temporarily at one point. Coached by Renedy Singh, the side will hope to make it back-to-back wins to be in a strong position welcoming NorthEast United who have made a difficult start to their season. With winnable fixtures on paper in the next three games, Bengaluru FC will be aiming for maximum points in this period.
NorthEast United suffered a hard time at Salt Lake in their season opener when they were decimated by East Bengal, suffering a 3-0 defeat where the departure of key personnel from the squad became evident. It's not that the team did not create any chances, even if lesser degree than their opposition, but they did not have an Alaeddine Ajarie to put them in and also lacked a Mohammed Ali Bemammer in midfield to strike the right balance. Having said that, facing the Red and Gold at Salt Lake has not been pleasing for the side as they haven't won at the venue and now lost the last three visits with an aggregate score of 9-0. The same tale has been at Kanteerava, where they face Bengaluru FC next, not winning a single game but managing to draw in the last two visits. Clearly, the Highlanders have an unsuitable beginning to the 2025-26 season and another loss will be damaging as they are bottom placed side from the first round with their goals difference severely affected too with their opening day loss. Hence, they will want to avoid it at all cost.
Prediction: Bengaluru FC 2-1 NorthEast United
