IFL 2026-27: Rajasthan United host Sreenidi Deccan; Dempo welcome debutants Bengaluru United

Rajasthan United FC host Sreenidi Deccan FC on Sunday, November 1, in the opening weekend of the Indian Football League 2026-27 season. The match kicks off at 16:00 IST at the Vidyadhar Nagar Stadium in Jaipur. Both clubs finished in the top four last season and qualified for the Championship Round. Sreenidi Deccan finished third with 26 points from 14 matches, while Rajasthan United ended fourth with 18 points.

Head-to-head and new leadership

Sreenidi Deccan hold a strong head-to-head advantage over Rajasthan United, with seven wins, two losses and one draw in 10 previous competitive encounters across all competitions, including six victories in eight IFL/I-League matches.

Rajasthan United are led by new Italian manager Giuseppe Cristaldi, who is taking charge for his first IFL match. The squad includes Spanish centre-back Adri Castellano, defender Harmanjot Khabra, Brazilian forward Diego Mauricio, Spanish midfielder Pedro Astray, and wingers Pangambam Naoba Meitei and Thomyo Shimray.

Winger Novin Gurung, entering his sixth season with Rajasthan United, said the club has shown him trust and support over the last six seasons and that the squad has a balanced mix of experienced players and young talent.

Sreenidi Deccan squad and coach

Sreenidi Deccan are coached by Spaniard Antonio Rueda. The club has bolstered its squad with Indian internationals Pritam Kotal, Pronay Halder, Nishu Kumar and Jerry Mawihmingthanga, alongside retaining goalkeeper Kamaljit Singh. Colombian striker and captain David Castañeda will lead Sreenidi Deccan for a sixth season.

Rueda said he is happy to return to India with a strong project and a talented group of players, and that Rajasthan have quality foreign and Indian players. Castañeda said last season Sreenidi Deccan came close to the title and learned from that experience.

Dempo host debutants Bengaluru United

Later on Sunday, at 18:30 IST, Dempo Sports Club host IFL debutants FC Bengaluru United at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Margao, Goa. It is the first-ever IFL meeting between the clubs.

FC Bengaluru United earned promotion after the 2025-26 I-League 2 season and are coached by former India international Nallappan Mohanraj. Dempo SC, five-time national champions, reached the Championship Round last season.

Coach Samir Naik and Ghanaian forward Richmond Kwasi Owusu are confident of a strong start at home after a three-month pre-season.

Competition format

The 2026-27 Indian Football League is the fifth season of the competition as the second tier of the Indian football league system. It began on October 30, 2026. Rajasthan United FC is based in Jaipur, Rajasthan, and Sreenidi Deccan FC is based in Hyderabad, Telangana. Both clubs are competing in the IFL.

Last season's Championship Round qualifiers

Related on Apex Sports News

• ISL 2026-27: NorthEast United face Bengaluru FC in Guwahati

• IFL 2026-27: Nagaland United set for debut against Real Kashmir

• Sunil Chhetri assist earns Bengaluru FC 1-1 draw with NorthEast United in ISL 2026-27

Sources

• Sportstar

• thenewsmill.com

• Photo: Tanmanaptman, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)