KOLKATA, INDIA: Indian football fans have been surprised that defending Indian Super League (ISL) champions East Bengal are yet to play their first game of the season. Gameweek 1 of the new ISL season began on Saturday, October 10 and will conclude on Wednesday, 14, but the Torchbearers are playing no part in it.
East Bengal, incidentally, are scheduled to play their first game of the new season on Sunday, October 18, when they travel to Margao to take on debutants Churchill Brothers. The latter, who are a historic club from Goa, took over the license sold by Jamshedpur FC, who wound up their operations earlier this year.
East Bengal have not featured in the ISL so far this season
The main reason why East Bengal have not featured so far this season is because of their continental commitments. By virtue of winning the ISL last season, the Yellow and Gold Brigade qualified for the AFC Champions League Two, in which they were asked to host Al Shorta in the group stage on October 13.
This clash against the Iraqis came right in the middle of Gameweek 1 in the ISL. So, the organisers magnanimously decided to let East Bengal begin their season from Gameweek 2, to give them the opportunity to both prepare for and then recover from the match against Al Shorta (which they incidentally lost 2-3).
It is nearly unheard of to not see the defending champions play in the first gameweek of the new season. Mohun Bagan, who won the title in 2024-25, played the opening fixture of 2025-26 against Kerala Blasters. Similarly, Mumbai City, the 2023-24 winners, played the first game of the 2024-25 campaign against Bagan.
Gameweek 1 of ISL 2026-27 ends on October 14
The league got off to an electrifying start this season, with Bengaluru FC coming from behind to defeat SC Delhi 3-2. FC Goa drew Chennaiyin FC 1-1 before Inter Kashi were thrashed 0-2 by Kerala Blasters at their adopted home, Pune. The biggest shockers of Gameweek 1, however, were yet to come.
Churchill Brothers upset Mumbai City 2-0, and NorthEast United FC edged serial winners Mohun Bagan out 1-0 via a last-minute goal from Jithin MS. Punjab FC get their season underway on Wednesday, October 14, when they host Odisha FC at their adopted home, Delhi. East Bengal play Churchill Brothers away from home on Sunday, October 18, in Gameweek 2.
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Cover image courtesy: X/EastBengalFC
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