| Kannur vs Thrissur | |
| MATCH | SPL |
| DATE | 25 - 09 - 2026 |
| TIME | 07.30 PM IST |
| STADIUM | Kannur |
Kannur Warriors FC vs Thrissur Magic FC Preview: SLK 2026 Opener, Team News, Live Streaming & More
The third edition of the Super League Kerala (SLK) is set to begin with a repeat of last season's final as defending champions Kannur Warriors FC take on Thrissur Magic FC in the opening match of SLK 2026.
The new season gets underway on September 25, 2026, with the two sides returning to the venue where Kannur Warriors lifted the trophy last season. The official SLK fixture listing confirms that the match will be played at the Jawahar Municipal Stadium in Kannur, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 PM IST.
The 2026 campaign will once again feature six clubs: Kannur Warriors FC, Thrissur Magic FC, Calicut FC, Thiruvananthapuram Kombans FC, Forca Kochi FC and Malappuram FC.
Kannur Warriors FC vs Thrissur Magic FC: Match Preview
The opening fixture immediately brings back memories of the 2025 SLK final, when Kannur Warriors defeated Thrissur Magic 1-0 to claim the championship. The two clubs will now meet again on the opening night of the new campaign.
For Kannur Warriors, the match provides an opportunity to begin their title defence in front of their home supporters. The club will also start a new chapter under head coach Andrey Chernyshov, who previously managed Thrissur Magic.
Chernyshov guided Thrissur Magic to the final last season after taking charge during their campaign. His return to SLK, this time in the Kannur dugout, adds another interesting storyline to the opening fixture.
Kannur will be looking to build on their championship-winning campaign and begin Season 3 with three points.
Thrissur Magic FC Aim to Start Strong
Thrissur Magic will arrive in Kannur with an opportunity to respond to their final defeat from last season.
The club has made several changes to its squad ahead of the new campaign, including additions such as Henry Plazas, Sergio Gil, Suhas PM, Mohammed Niyaj K and Abdul Samad PP.
Following Chernyshov's departure, Thrissur Magic have appointed David Caneda as their new head coach. The Spanish coach brings previous coaching experience from Cyprus and El Salvador and has also worked as an assistant coach at Valencia CF.
The opening match will therefore provide an early test of Caneda's approach and how quickly the revamped Thrissur side can adapt to his methods.
What to Expect From the Match?
There is plenty at stake despite this being the first game of the season.
Kannur Warriors will want to demonstrate why they are the defending champions, while Thrissur Magic will be determined to put last season's final defeat behind them.
The fixture is also particularly intriguing because of the coaching storyline. Chernyshov will face his former club, while Caneda will oversee his first competitive SLK match as Thrissur Magic head coach.
The previous final finished 1-0 in Kannur's favour, so Thrissur will have another opportunity to challenge the reigning champions.
The 2026 edition also introduces an important change to the competition format. Matches level after 90 minutes in the league stage will go directly to a penalty shootout, with the competition using a 3-2-1 points system: three points for a regulation-time win, two for a shootout win and one for a shootout defeat.
That means even a match that finishes level after 90 minutes will still have points at stake.
Kannur Warriors FC vs Thrissur Magic FC: Head-to-Head
According to the latest match preview, the teams have met four times, with Kannur Warriors recording three wins, Thrissur Magic yet to register a victory and one match ending level.
Their most important meeting came in the 2025 SLK final, when Kannur secured a 1-0 victory.
The tournament will be available digitally on ZEE5, while Unite8 Sports will provide linear coverage in India. Fans in the UAE can follow the competition through Etisalat.
ZEE5's official SLK page also confirms that the 2026 season begins on September 25.
Super League Kerala 2026: Participating Teams
The six teams competing in the third edition are:
Kannur Warriors FC
Thrissur Magic FC
Calicut FC
Thiruvananthapuram Kombans FC
Forca Kochi FC
Malappuram FC
The first matchday will run from September 25 to September 27, with Kannur Warriors vs Thrissur Magic opening the tournament.
Final Word
The opening fixture between Kannur Warriors FC and Thrissur Magic FC has all the ingredients of an exciting start to SLK 2026.
It is a rematch of last season's final, features a new coaching chapter for both clubs and gives Thrissur an immediate opportunity to challenge the reigning champions.
With Kannur Warriors beginning their title defence at home and Thrissur Magic looking to make a strong statement under David Caneda, the opening night of Super League Kerala 2026 promises an intriguing contest.