Chennaiyin FC ISL 2026-27: Schedule, Squad, Tickets & Fixtures

Chennaiyin FC ISL 2026-27 begins on the opening day of the season: the Marina Machans face FC Goa at the Fatorda Stadium on Saturday, 10 October 2026, at 7:30 PM IST. Their first home game is a South Indian Derby against Kerala Blasters FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai, on Saturday, 31 October. On this page you’ll find the complete Chennaiyin FC schedule for 2026-27 with dates, kick-off times and venues, the new foreign signings, coach, ticket booking details and everything a Chennaiyin fan needs for Season 13.

Chennaiyin FC 2026-27: Quick Facts

Chennaiyin FC Schedule 2026-27 (Phase 1 Fixtures)

The official ISL 2026-27 Phase 1 fixtures were announced on 26 September 2026. Chennaiyin FC play 12 matches in Phase 1, between 10 October 2026 and 17 January 2027 — six at home in Chennai and six away. The Marina Machans start with three away games in a row before their home opener on 31 October. All kick-off times are in Indian Standard Time (IST).

Key Chennaiyin FC matches to watch

• Season opener: FC Goa vs Chennaiyin FC – 10 October, Fatorda. A rematch of the 2015 ISL final, which Chennaiyin won.
• South Indian Derbies: away at Bengaluru FC on 17 October, then Kerala Blasters FC at home on 31 October.
• Champions in Chennai: defending champions East Bengal FC visit the Marina Arena on 7 November.

Phase 2 fixtures (January to May 2027) will be added here as soon as the league releases them. For every club’s matches, see the full ISL 2026-27 schedule.

Chennaiyin FC Tickets 2026-27: How to Book

Chennaiyin FC’s home matches are played at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, known to fans as the Marina Arena. Under the ISL’s new club-led model, the club has not yet announced its official ticketing partner or prices for 2026-27. Chennaiyin’s first home match is against Kerala Blasters FC on 31 October, so sales should open in October.

When tickets go live, expect single-match tickets for all home games and season-pass options. We’ll add direct booking links for every Chennaiyin FC home fixture on this page as soon as the club announces them.

Tip: the South Indian Derby against Kerala Blasters (31 October) and the visit of champions East Bengal (7 November) are likely to be the most in-demand home games — book early.

Chennaiyin FC Squad 2026-27

After a difficult 2025-26 campaign, Chennaiyin have given their squad a complete makeover. All six foreign players from last season have been replaced by five new overseas signings, and the club has also parted ways with several experienced Indian players.

Foreign players

Key ins and outs

Signed: Madih Talal, Ramon Tanque (loan), Nikola Stojanović, Nuno Reis and Emmanuel Imanishimwe; Namgyal Bhutia joined from Bengaluru FC.

Left: Farukh Choudhary, Pritam Kotal and Mandar Rao Desai were released.

The new foreign group gives Chennaiyin experience in every line. Madih Talal, who impressed at Punjab FC, is the creative heart of the side; Ramon Tanque adds a proper centre-forward; Nikola Stojanović brings ISL experience to midfield; and veteran Nuno Reis leads a new-look defence alongside Emmanuel Imanishimwe. Scoring was Chennaiyin’s biggest problem last season, so how quickly Talal and Tanque click will decide a lot.

Chennaiyin FC Head Coach: Clifford Miranda

Clifford Miranda became Chennaiyin FC’s first full-time Indian head coach in 2025, and in July 2026 the club handed him a multi-year contract extension despite a tough first season. Co-owner Vita Dani praised his “strong leadership”, while Miranda said he was grateful for the trust shown “despite the difficult season”. His focus is on developing young Indian talent and building a clear playing identity — and with a rebuilt squad and a full pre-season, 2026-27 is his chance to show what his Chennaiyin can do.

Chennaiyin FC in 2025-26: How Last Season Went

2025-26 was one of the hardest seasons in Chennaiyin’s history. In a shortened single-leg league, the Marina Machans won only two of their 13 matches, finishing 13th with 9 points (2 wins, 3 draws, 8 losses), scoring 9 goals and conceding 21. The club spent nothing on transfers during the season and also went out of the Super Cup in the group stage. Lessons have clearly been learned: the summer rebuild is the biggest the club has made in years.

Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Marina Arena): Chennaiyin FC’s Home Ground

Chennaiyin FC play their home matches at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai, known as the Marina Arena, one of the largest grounds in the ISL. In the league’s early seasons, Chennaiyin regularly drew average crowds of more than 20,000 fans. With six of their 12 Phase 1 games at home — including the South Indian Derby against Kerala Blasters — a strong Marina Arena will be vital for a turnaround.

Chennaiyin FC History and Trophies

Founded on 28 August 2014 and co-owned by Vita Dani, Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan and former India cricket captain MS Dhoni, Chennaiyin FC are one of the ISL’s original clubs and one of its most successful. They topped the league in the very first season in 2014, won the ISL title in 2015 by beating FC Goa 3-2 in the final, and lifted a second title in 2017-18 by beating Bengaluru FC 3-2. They also became the first ISL club to reach the group stage of the AFC Cup, in 2019.

Three Chennaiyin FC Players to Watch in ISL 2026-27

Madih Talal: The Frenchman was one of the most creative players in the league at Punjab FC. If he brings that form to Chennai, he’ll be the man who unlocks defences for the Marina Machans.

Ramon Tanque: Chennaiyin’s biggest weakness last season was scoring goals. The Brazilian striker, on loan from Persib Bandung, has the job of fixing it.

Nuno Reis: Experienced, composed and a proven ISL defender after his time at Mumbai City FC, the Portuguese centre-back is the leader Chennaiyin’s new back line needs.

Chennaiyin FC 2026-27 Season Preview: What Success Looks Like

After finishing 13th, anything close to the playoffs would be a big step forward for Chennaiyin. The targets for Season 13 are clear: score more goals, be harder to beat at home and get back into the top half. The early fixtures are tough — three away games to start, including trips to Bengaluru and Mohun Bagan — but a run of home games in November and December gives Clifford Miranda’s side a real chance to build momentum. If the new signings settle quickly, a push for the top six is realistic.

Where to Watch Chennaiyin FC Matches Live

The official TV broadcaster and streaming partner for ISL 2026-27 have not been announced yet. Reports suggest Zee is close to a TV deal and YouTube is expected to stream matches, but neither is confirmed. We’ll update this section once the league confirms where to watch every Chennaiyin FC match live.

Chennaiyin FC ISL 2026-27: Frequently Asked Questions

When is Chennaiyin FC’s first match in ISL 2026-27?

Chennaiyin FC play FC Goa at the Fatorda Stadium on Saturday, 10 October 2026, at 7:30 PM IST, on the opening day of the season.

When is Chennaiyin FC’s first home match?

Chennaiyin’s first home game is the South Indian Derby against Kerala Blasters FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai, on Saturday, 31 October 2026, at 5:00 PM IST.

How many matches will Chennaiyin FC play in ISL 2026-27?

Chennaiyin FC will play 24 league matches — 12 at home and 12 away. Phase 1 includes 12 of them: 6 at home and 6 away.

Who is Chennaiyin FC’s head coach for 2026-27?

Clifford Miranda, the club’s first full-time Indian head coach, who signed a multi-year contract extension in July 2026.

Who are Chennaiyin FC’s foreign players for 2026-27?

Madih Talal (France), Ramon Tanque (Brazil), Nikola Stojanović (Serbia), Nuno Reis (Portugal) and Emmanuel Imanishimwe (Rwanda).

Who owns Chennaiyin FC?

Chennaiyin FC is co-owned by Vita Dani, Abhishek Bachchan and MS Dhoni.

How many ISL titles have Chennaiyin FC won?

Two — in 2015 and 2017-18.

How can I book Chennaiyin FC tickets for ISL 2026-27?

The club has not yet announced its 2026-27 ticketing partner. Booking links for every home match will be added to this page as soon as sales open.

Keep checking this page for Chennaiyin FC ticket links, Phase 2 fixtures and squad updates, and follow iSportsLeague on Facebook and Twitter for the latest ISL news.

Last updated: 26 September 2026 – Phase 1 fixtures added.