From the 54 teams that started the 2026 Reliance Football Development League, we are down to only four sides in the final stage of the competition in the National Football Championship. These sides will battle not only to be this year's champions but also to qualify for the Premier League Next Gen Cup. This is the fifth edition of the RFDL and a new champion is expected to hold the prize after the holders, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, were knocked out in the previous round. The two group winners and two runners-up from the National Group Stage will compete in this round in the semifinals over two legs. The first leg will be held on 12 April 2026, with the return leg scheduled on 15 April 2026. The winners will move into the final to fight for the trophy on 18 April 2026, the same day as the third-place playoff between the losers. The two finalists and the third-place team will qualify for the Next Gen Cup. The RFDL 2026 National Championship stage will be hosted in the GMC Athletic Stadium in Goa.
RFDL 2026 National Championship Qualified Teams
Bengaluru FC (Group A winners)
Punjab FC (Group B winners)
FC Goa (Group A Runners-up)
Kerala Blasters FC (Group B Runners-up)
RFDL 2026 National Championship Semifinal Previews
Bengaluru FC vs Kerala Blasters
Bengaluru FC had a dominant group stage as they topped their group in the National Group Stage with 19 points from 10 games, including five wins, four draws and only one loss. The Blues finished five points clear at the top with 17 goals scored and eight conceded, an improvement from their Zonal group stage showing, where they finished third. They are the record winners of the RFDL, having won the first two editions of the competition and will want to extend the tally with a third trophy this year to regain their supremacy. Bengaluru FC also face rivals Kerala Blasters in the National Championship semifinal tie, whom they already beat in the previous round, giving them confidence to repeat the trick and progress to the final.
The Tuskers made it to the National Championship as runners-up of Group B in the National Group Stage, but only on goal-difference. They finished on the same points as group winners Punjab FC with 23 collected from 10 games with seven wins, two draws and a defeat. However, they were well ahead of the rest of the pack, with third-place Dempo SC eight points behind them. Kerala Blasters will be backing themselves to clinch the RFDL title for the first time after morale-boosting showings so far, after also finishing second in the Zonal group stage in another tight battle for the top. That said, Bengaluru FC, who also beat them in the inaugural edition’s showpiece, will be a difficult opponent to face at this stage over two legs, even though the Blues finished behind them in the earlier stages.
Punjab FC vs FC Goa
Punjab FC, the Group B winners of the National Group Stage, engaged in a closely contested battle with Kerala Blasters for the top spot, ultimately securing it thanks to a superior goal difference. They registered the same points as the yellow shirts, defeating them alongside six more victories in the previous stage, but also lost the fixture in the reverse clash. They were the highest scoring side in the previous stage with 22 goals, which helped them end up first in the group and avoid facing a winner from a different group in the National Championship semifinal. Hence, they will take on FC Goa, a side yet to reach the final of the competition, in the last-four over two legs, seeking a second title after winning the first one only two years ago.
Qualifying for the back-to-back National Championship is FC Goa, who are also hosting this stage this year. Just like in the previous edition, the Gaurs finished as runners-up in Group A but only by the benefit of goal-difference, as they tied with third-place Sudeva Delhi on points and finished just a point ahead of fourth-place and holders for now, Mohun Bagan Super Giant. They finished five points behind the top spot with 14 points managed from 10 games, suffering four losses. That forces them to face a group winner in the semifinal in the form of Punjab FC, hoping to avoid a humiliating exit, where they failed to score in this stage last time in the crushing 3-0 defeat to Classic FA in the semifinal and then suffering a 1-0 loss to Jameshedpur FC in the third-place match.
RFDL 2026 National Championship Fixtures
First Leg
12 April 2026
Bengaluru FC vs Kerala Blasters (08:00)
Punjab FC vs FC Goa (16:00)
Second Leg
15 April 2026
Kerala Blasters vs Bengaluru FC (08:00)
FC Goa vs Punjab FC (16:00)
Third-Place Playoff
18 April 2026
Loser of semi-final 1 vs Loser of semi-final 2 (08:00) - TBD
Final
18 April 2026
Winner of semi-final 1vs Winner of semi-final 2 (16:00) - TBD
