Bhubaneswar, Monday, February 23, 2026:( Pratyusha bureau ) Odisha FC will host newly-promoted Inter KashiFC in their first match of Indian Super League 2025-26, which will be played at the KalingaStadium, in Bhubaneswar, on Tuesday, February 24, 2026. The match is scheduled for a 19:30IST kick-off and will be streamed live on FanCode and telecast on Sony Sports TEN 2.Odisha FC will play their first match of the season at home after their opening fixture againstPunjab FC on February 16 was postponed. Meanwhile, Inter Kashi showed immense resilienceto secure a 1-1 draw against AIFF Super Cup champions FC Goa in their league debut last week.Speaking ahead of their first match of the season, Odisha FC head coach, TG Purushottamansaid, “We are not focussed on the results. We are concentrating on the performances; the resultswill come automatically. We will stick to our strengths and look to exploit their weakness. Wewill take the challenges however they come.”Speaking about the team’s goals this season, Odisha FC captain Carlos Delgado said, “The mostimportant thing is to stay together, be compact, ambitious, and enjoy the training. We don’t havemuch time, so we must become a strong and united team quickly. We will fight and giveeverything to win.”Both teams have met each other once in the AIFF Super Cup 2024, where Odisha emergedvictorious 3-0 with Lalthathanga, Diego Maurício and Puitea scoring the goals.Discussing tomorrow’s match Inter Kashi Head Coach, Antonio López Habas said, “Thefundamental plan for us is to build the team in this category and grow every single day. Thetarget is always the next match, now it is Odisha. We are not the favourites to win the league, butwe want to be competitive throughout the season. My model of play depends on the players Ihave. A coach cannot say, ‘This is my system and it will never change’. No! You must adapt tothe qualities and conditions of your players. That is my philosophy.”We have to do things well from the first moment because the league is very short. But there isno pressure. This is Inter Kashi’s first time in the ISL, and if we follow the coach’s ideas andexecute our plans properly, we will be competitive in every game. We must focus only on thethings that depend on us”, said Inter Kashi forward Alfred Planas.Odisha FC will aim to ignite their campaign with a strong home performance, while Inter KashiFC will be eager to build on the positive start to their season.
