Real Kashmir FC, first club from J&K to qualify for I-League will make its historic debut match in the 2018-19 season of the league against I-league champion Minerva Punjab Football Club (MPFC) at TAU Devi Lal Stadium Chandigarh on October 31. The 2018-19 season of the I-League kicks off on October 26 with Chennai City FC facing the All India Football Federation (AIFF)’s development side – Indian Arrows – at the Nehru Stadium, Coimbatore.
The tentative fixture of the league was recently announced by the league committee of AIFF and it will feature around 110 matches to be played across eleven rounds. The league is tentatively scheduled to finish in the second week of March 2019. Although all the matches will not be telecast live, yet streaming shall be made available on the host broadcaster’s online platform and mobile applications.
By winning the I-league (2nd division) in May this year, Real Kashmir FC became first ever club from the State to qualify for the premier football lleague of the country. Real Kashmir FC will be playing its debut match against Minerva Punjab Football Club (MPFC) at Chandigarh on October 31. With the qualification of Real Kashmir, league will be travelling to Kashmir with Real Kashmir hosting all its home matches in Srinagar.
J&K will be hosting first ever I-League match on November 6 as Real Kashmir will be taking on Churchill Brothers on home ground of Synthetic Turf, TRC Ground.
The league is set to feature giant football clubs like East Bengal, MohunBagan, Churchill Brothers FC Goa, ShillongLajong, Aizawl FC etc., all of whom will be travelling to Srinagar to play against Real Kashmir FC during the season. As such, football crazy fans of Kashmir would be able to witness top quality league football at home.