Palmeiras to play in IFA Shield

Fancied Brazilian side Palmeiras, currently joint leaders in the Latin American country's national league, will be the star attraction in the 107th IFA Shield football tournament which kicks-off in Calcutta on September 24.

Leading Bangladesh club Mukti Joddha, Vietnam's inaugural semi-professional V League runners-up Nam Dinh, as also city giants Mohun Bagan and East Bengal will be the other contenders in the 12-team tournament, to be played on a league-cum-knock-out basis.

The final will be played on October 7, IFA joint secretary Ranjit Gupta announced at a press conference on Thursday.

The pre-quarter-final stage will be a round-robin league and the group winners and runners-up will play the quarter-finals on knock-out basis.

Following are the groups:
Group A: Kingfisher East Bengal, Tollygunge Aggragami, Mohammedan Sporting.
Group B: Mohun Bagan, F C Kochi and Eveready.
Group C: Nam Dinh, Mukti Yoddha, India under-19.
Group D: Palmeiras, Tata Football Academy and Bhratri Sangha.