IFL 2026-27: Shillong Lajong open against Mohammedan in Kalyani

Shillong Lajong will begin their Indian Football League (IFL) 2026-27 campaign against Mohammedan Sporting in Kalyani, West Bengal, on October 31, The Sports Room reported on Wednesday, October 21. The first-leg fixtures were released on the IFL's social media handles on Tuesday.

Lajong's first-leg schedule

• October 31: Mohammedan Sporting (away, Kalyani)
• Back-to-back home games at SSA Stadium, Shillong, against Chanmari and Sreenidi Deccan
• November 19: Dempo (away, Goa)
• November 25: Nagaland United (home)
• November 29: Rajasthan United (home)
• Away games against Bengaluru United, Samaleswari and Gokulam Kerala
• January 10, 2027: Real Kashmir (home), their first match of the new year

A new look

Lajong finished a historic second last season with an all-Indian squad. This season they have signed four foreign players in a bid to go one step further.

Their opponents in the opener, Mohammedan Sporting, were relegated from the Indian Super League after finishing bottom in 2025-26.

New faces in the league

Besides Mohammedan, the newcomers in this season's IFL are:

• Bengaluru United, promoted from I-League 2
• Samaleswari, who took over Delhi FC's spot
• Nagaland United, who took Aizawl FC's place

Nagaland United's entry gives Nagaland a club in the second tier and sets up a North East meeting with Lajong in Shillong on November 25. Lajong also face Mizoram's Chanmari early in the season.

Why it matters

After finishing second last season, Lajong start this campaign with higher expectations, and their four new foreign signings will be watched closely in the opening weeks.

What's next

The opener in Kalyani on October 31 will be followed by Lajong's first home game of the season at SSA Stadium. NEInsider will carry results from Lajong's and Nagaland United's matches through the season.