East Bengal FC had been drawn with Namdhari FC and Sreenidi Deccan FC in Group A of 2025 IFA Shield.
29 times champion East Bengal will face Sreenidi Deccan FC on 8th October while Namdhari FC on 14th October.
Mohun Bagan SG, United SC and Gokulam Kerala FC had been clubbed in Group B.
The winners of Group A and B will clash in final on 18th October.
East Bengal FC had won the IFA Shield for a record 29 times – 1943, 1945, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1958, 1961, 1965, 1966, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2012, 2018(U19).
On 11 occasions they finished runners-up – 1942, 1944, 1947, 1953, 1969, 1977, 1979, 1998, 2003, 2013, 2015(U19)
Squad:
Goalkeepers:
Debjit Majumder, Prabhsukhan Gill, Gourab Shaw
Defenders:
Anwar Ali, Mohamad Rakip, Suman Dey, Bikram Pradhan, Martand Raina, Lal Chungnunga, Jay Gupta, Kevin Sibille
Midfielders:
Souvik Chakrabarti, Jeakson Singh, Saul Crespo, Mohammad Rashid, Miguel Figueira
Forwards: Bipin Singh, Edmund Lalrindika, Naorem Mahesh, David Lalhlansanga, PV Vishnu, Jesin TK, Sayan Banerjee, Hamid Ahadad
Picture Courtesy: East Bengal Media