The AIFF Super Cup 2025–26, India’s premier national cup football tournament organised by the All India Football Federation (AIFF), is all set to begin today, October 25, in Goa.
It serves as a tournament for the top clubs from both the Indian Super League (ISL) and the I-League, allowing teams from all tiers to compete for a significant domestic trophy. The winner of this edition will also qualify for the preliminary stage of the AFC Champions League 2 in 2026-27, giving the competition substantial continental relevance.
The Super Cup 2025-26 is planned to take place from October 25 to November 22, 2025. Unlike previous versions staged in Odisha, this year’s event will be held entirely in Goa, with matches taking place at the Fatorda Stadium in Margao and the GMC Athletic Stadium in Bambolim. This centralised venue structure is intended to simplify logistics and assure uniform match quality. Goa’s football-friendly environment and fan culture make it an appropriate venue for such a high-profile national event.
This season’s Super Cup will follow a group-and-knockout format. A total of 16 teams will compete, with the majority of them being ISL clubs and a few top-performing I-League sides. These teams will be grouped into four groups, with each group playing a round-robin format. The winners of each group will move on to the semi-finals, followed by the grand final. This arrangement ensures that each team receives many games while retaining the thrill of a knockout round.
The league will include ISL clubs like FC Goa, Jamshedpur FC (JFC), NorthEast United FC (NEUFC), Kerala Blasters (KBFC), Mumbai City FC, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, and Bengaluru FC (BFC), as well as select I-League clubs including Gokulam Kerala FC, Inter Kashi, and Rajasthan United.
This year, the Super Cup will precede the domestic league season, serving as a season opener rather than a postseason competition. This is a significant shift in Indian football calendar. The decision comes after the ISL 2025-26 season has been delayed and unclear due to continuing commercial rights negotiations between the AIFF and league organisers. Holding the Super Cup early guarantees that competitive football continues while also providing clubs with a valuable opportunity to prepare for the upcoming season.
Where to watch:
TV: Star Sports (for games at the Fatorda)
OTT: JioHotstar (for games at the Fatorda), Indian Football Youtube channel (for games at the GMC Bambolim Stadium)





