In the Kolkata derby that was poised to be the decider for the 2025-26 season ISL Shield, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal played out a nail-biting 1-1 draw that forced everything on the final day of the season on 21st May 2016. The Red and Gold thought they have snapped their rivals' continuous dominance on the Shield and ended their years of misery when substitute Edmund Lalrindika found the back of the net in the 84th minute after the side missed a series of glorious chances in the first half. A special celebration and an eruption of the Torch Bearers fans suggested they have touched destiny.
The Mariners who dominated the game on possession seemed to have ended their title defence but the Kolkata derby by its very nature produced another drama. Another impact off the bench, this time for the Green and Maroon, Jason Cummings got his head to the end of the corner in the 90th minute to loop it above Prabhsukhan Gill to bring everything square. The holders then could have won the derby in the dying minutes but this time the East Bengal shot stopper pulled out an excellent stop to deny Jamie Maclaren from close range who got on the end of fellow Australian Cummings' pass. It ended 1-1 with everything now resting on the pair's final games.
East Bengal retained the top spot on the ISL table with 23 points collected from 12 games. They remain on equal points with second placed Mohun Bagan but lead the chart due to their much superior goal difference courtesy of being the league's top scorer this season. Oscar Bruzon's team will now face Inter Kashi being in an advantageous position, hoping that they end with the Shield in hand. Whereas, Sergio Lobera's men welcome Sporting Club Delhi in the Salt Lake Stadium, with both games kicking off at 7:30 in the evening, wishing they can still make it three in a row although it requires a huge helping hand for their rivals. So who wins the 2025-26 ISL Shield? We look at both club's probability.
East Bengal
Even though East Bengal were greatly disappointed after denied their first ISL Kolkata derby win against their rivals Mohun Bagan, the result hugely favours them in the race for the Shield. The calculation is simple for them. The Red and Gold have destiny in their hands and need to win against Inter Kashi in their final game of the season to be absolutely certain of getting their hands on the ISL Shield for the first time. If they do so, it doesn't matter if second-placed Mohun Bagan win their remaining game of the season and equal their points tally again, as Oscar Bruzon's side will still finish first courtesy of their healthy goal difference of +18. Facing a manager-less team, placed ninth on the standings, that only got promoted last season seems to be an ideal opposition to face for their title clinching match. However, the former Antonio Lopez Habas led side held the Mariners goalless at Salt Lake Stadium, a feat they repeated in their next game against SC Delhi. So, they will prove to be a hard nut to crack down with East Bengal also have struggled to break down deep blocks, most recently playing out a stalemate against Punjab FC. Regardless, even if they are held to a draw, they can still end up being champions provided that Mohun Bagan matches their result or lose. The only thing the Torch Bearers cannot afford is defeat then they have to ask for a miracle for their rivals to lose in their game as well. It is a road they don't want to walk and it will be hugely disappointing if they fluff the chance to win the Shield now so close to lifting it. The side have faced agony of missing out on title at the last moment multiple times, especially in the I-League days, so they won't be happy for the history to repeat itself as they chase a first league glory since 2003-04 season.
Mohun Bagan
Cummings's late equaliser meant Mohun Bagan maintained their unbeaten streak in the Kolkata derby in the ISL since the two giants' integration into the competition and avoid losing their Shield dominance to their rivals with a defeat in this fixture. They also came close to winning the electric affair at the Salt Lake for a fascinating comeback which could have put them in an advantageous position of winning the Shield for the third season in a row but had to contain with a draw. The result gives the Mariners little favour as they don't have destiny in their hands which they already spurned with costly draws against FC Goa and Inter Kashi this month prior to the Kolkata derby. Sergio Lobera's side is now left to hope that their rivals crumble in their final game, kicking off simultaneously, to stand any chance of retaining their honor again. The Green and Maroon have to find a way to win their final game of the season against 11th placed SC Delhi. It is their only way to have a slight chance of taking the Shield home again but they have failed to register a victory in the three games this month. However, even if they end up on the winning side, the title is not guaranteed as they will require East Bengal to drop points in their match. Playing a draw for the fourth straight game would then require their rivals to lose for only the second time this season after not failing to pick up a point since the defeat to Jamshedpur FC back in February end. This is because East Bengal have a much superior goal difference than the Mariners' +13. A defeat will end all hopes of finishing another season on top of the pile.
Others in the race
While the faith of winning the ISL 2025-26 Shield is mathematically constricted between the two Kolkata giants, it has been more than a two-horse race as others have a glimmer of hope to touch glory. Fourth to sixth team on the table namely Punjab FC, Mumbai City FC and Jamshedpur FC are still in the hunt for the Shield with one game remaining but they will require a huge collapse from the top two. Among them, Punjab FC and Mumbai City will play each other while Jamshedpur FC lock horns against Odisha FC in the other simultaneous game. Both Shers and Islanders have equal points with 22, seperated only by goal difference, so it's a slog war with the winner of this tie going straight at the top of the table. The Men of Steels won't be wanting either of them to win as that will end their title chances, sitting on 21 points. That scenario will keep them a point away from the top spot even if they secure victory in their final game. However, the trio hopes depend on the results of the top two in the table in other games as a victory for any of them or even a point for both in their final games will make winning the ISL Shield impossible for the rest of the pack.
ISL 2025-26 Final Day Fixtures
Thursday, 21 May 2026
Jamshedpur FC vs Odisha FC - JRD Tata Complex, Jamshedpur (19:30)
Punjab FC vs Mumbai City FC - Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Guwahati (19:30)
Mohun Bagan vs SC Delhi - Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata (19:30)
Inter Kashi vs East Bengal - Kishore Bharati Krinangan (19:30)
