Defending champions Mahindra United open their campaign in the National Football League with a tough encounter against Durand Cup winners Dempo Sports Club in Mumbai on January 8.

The 11th edition of the NFL kicks-off in Delhi on January 5, when JCT, Phagwara, take on Mohammedan Sporting, Kolkata.

The league will be interrupted for three weeks, from January 23 to February 15, for the Indian team to prepare and participate in the Olympic qualifiers.

The draw:

ROUND I:

05.01.07 JCT v/s Mohammedan Sporting - Delhi

07.01.07 Air India v/s Kingfisher East Bengal - Mumbai

06.01.07 HAL v/s Mohun Bagan - Bangalore

07.01.07 Churchill Brothers v/s Sporting Clube de Goa - Duler, Goa

08.01.07 Mahindra United v/s Dempo SC - Mumbai

ROUND II:

11.01.07 HAL v/s Kingfisher East Bengal - Bangalore

10.01.07 JCT v/s Mohun Bagan - Ludhiana

12.01.07 Dempo SC v/s Mohammedan Sporting - Duler, Goa

11.01.07 Mahindra United v/s Churchill Brothers - Mumbai

12.01.07 Air India v/s Sporting Clube de Goa - Mumbai � Kick-off 3.45 pm.

ROUND III:

14.1.07 Mahindra United v/s Mohun Bagan - Mumbai

16. 01.07 Air India v/s HAL - Mumbai

17. 01.07 JCT v/s Churchill Brothers - Ludhiana

18. 01.07 Dempo SC v/s Sporting Clube de Goa - Duler, Goa

18.01.07 Mohammedan Sporting v/s Kingfisher East Bengal

ROUND IV:

20. 01.07 Mohun Bagan v/s Air India

21. 01.07 Kingfisher East Bengal v/s Churchill Brothers

22. 01.07 JCT v/s Dempo SC - Ludhiana

22. 01.07 Mahindra United v/s Sporting Clube de Goa - Mumbai

22. 01.07 Mohammedan Sporting v/s HAL.