Chanmari FC are preparing for the 2026-27 Indian Football League campaign, but the Mizoram-based club are taking a cautious approach to squad building, with financial backing emerging as a key factor in their plans for the new season.
MyKhel understands that Chanmari are yet to make any foreign signing for the upcoming IFL campaign and are waiting for clarity on financial assistance from the Mizoram government before committing to overseas players.
The club's approach comes at a time when the financial demands of competing in India's second tier have increased. Chanmari had already raised concerns about the cost of participation in the revamped IFL, with the club describing the proposed ₹1.23 crore participation fee as excessively high and warning
that the new model could put financially weaker clubs at a disadvantage.
Government support could shape Chanmari's squad
According to information available to MyKhel, Chanmari's immediate priority is securing financial support from the Mizoram government. Only after receiving greater clarity on the funding situation will the club look to strengthen their squad with foreign players.
The decision is particularly significant given the new IFL regulations. Clubs will be permitted to field a maximum of three foreign players in their starting XI during the 2026-27 season, a rule approved by the IFL Governing Council with the objective of providing greater opportunities to Indian footballers.
"We will sign foreigners if we get help from the government. For now, we have 25 Indian players all based out of Mizoram, and they are decent," Chanmari's sporting director Hmingthana says to MyKhel in an exclusive chat.
Chanmari FC need a New Head Coach
Dipankur Sharma, who was involved with the club during the previous IFL campaign, is no longer with the team for the ongoing preparations. The club are currently without a permanent head coach for their IFL campaign.
Sharma had taken charge of Chanmari during the 2025-26 season and was appointed in March. He guided the side during the latter stages of the campaign. The coaching situation will be another important piece of the puzzle for Chanmari as they look to assemble their squad ahead of the new IFL season.
While preparations for the IFL remain cautious, Chanmari are currently competing in the Mizoram Premier League with a squad dominated by Mizo players. The team participating in the MPL is being handled by local Mizo coaching personnel, giving the club an opportunity to continue developing and assessing its domestic talent while decisions regarding the IFL squad are being taken.
"The local coach is leading us in the MPL, but we will have to find a new head coach for IFL as he doesn't have a license," says Chanmari's sporting director to this website.
That local-first approach is hardly surprising. Chanmari's debut IFL campaign last season demonstrated that a predominantly regional core can compete at the national level. The club finished fifth in the 2025-26 IFL, collecting 15 points from 14 matches according to available season statistics.
They also produced some memorable results, including a 2-1 win over Sreenidi Deccan in Aizawl, while finishing the Championship phase with a dramatic 2-2 draw against Rajasthan United after scoring twice in stoppage time.
Chanmari's IFL challenge
The 2026-27 IFL season is scheduled to begin on October 16, 2026, with Chanmari among the 11 clubs confirmed for the competition. They will be joined by fellow northeastern sides Aizawl FC and Shillong Lajong FC.
For Chanmari, however, the immediate challenge is not simply preparing for the opening match. The club must first resolve its financial and coaching uncertainties before completing the squad.
The Mizoram government's potential financial push could therefore prove decisive. With greater backing, Chanmari could enter the market for quality foreign players and build a squad capable of improving on last season's fifth-place finish.
