AIFF Super Cup 2025-26: full schedule, teams, match list, venue. Kalinga Super Cup 2025 schedule - tournament will start at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
AIFF Super Cup 2025-26
The AIFF Super Cup 2025-26 marks the sixth edition of one of India’s premier football knockout tournaments, showcasing top teams from the Indian Super League (ISL) and the I-League. It will take place in the football-loving state of Goa, starting October 25, 2025, bringing together 16 elite teams competing across a group stage and knockout rounds for the prestigious title and a chance to qualify for continental competition.
Tournament Format and Schedule
The 2025-26 Super Cup features a group-stage format with four groups of four teams each. The 16 teams are divided as follows:
- Group A: Mohun Bagan Super Giant, East Bengal FC, Chennaiyin FC, Real Kashmir FC
- Group B: FC Goa, Jamshedpur FC, NorthEast United FC, Inter Kashi FC
- Group C: Bengaluru FC, Mohammedan SC, Punjab FC, Gokulam Kerala FC
- Group D: Mumbai City FC, Kerala Blasters FC, Hyderabad FC, Rajasthan United FC
Each group will have round-robin matches played between October 25 and November 6, 2025. The winner from each group will qualify for the semi-finals. The dates for the knockout rounds will be announced later. The winner of the tournament earns a playoff spot in the 2026-27 AFC Champions League 2.
Key Matches and Venues
The tournament opens with East Bengal FC facing Real Kashmir FC at GMC Stadium, Bambolim on October 25, concurrently with Mohun Bagan Super Giant playing Chennaiyin FC at Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Fatorda).
Matches will be primarily held at two venues in Goa: GMC Athletic Stadium, Bambolim (capacity ~3000) and Fatorda Stadium, Margao (capacity 19,000). Tilak Maidan is shortlisted as a backup stadium.
The group stage has 24 matches scheduled over 13 days followed by semifinals and a final set for November 2025.
Historical Context
- Bengaluru FC won the inaugural Super Cup in 2018.
- FC Goa secured the title in 2019, and after a break due to the pandemic, Odisha FC won the trophy in 2023.
- East Bengal FC were the 2024 champions, and FC Goa reclaimed the Cup in May 2025 by beating Jamshedpur FC.
- The Super Cup has established itself as a crucial tournament in Indian football as it integrates the top-tier leagues and gives teams continental competition incentives.
Teams Overview
The tournament will see participation from all major Indian football clubs across ISL and top teams from I-League:
- Indian Super League heavyweights including Mohun Bagan Super Giant, FC Goa, Bengaluru FC, Mumbai City FC, Kerala Blasters.
- Emerging or promoted clubs such as Inter Kashi, competing for the first time at this level.
- Top I-League teams including Real Kashmir FC, Gokulam Kerala FC, Mohammedan SC, Rajasthan United FC.
Significance
The AIFF Super Cup acts as a bridge between the ISL and I-League, fostering competition and opportunity across different tiers of Indian football. Winning the Super Cup not only gives a prestigious trophy but also international exposure via the AFC Champions League 2 playoffs.
For fans, the tournament promises exciting football, rivalries—such as Kolkata giants East Bengal vs Mohun Bagan—high stakes, and a celebration of Indian football’s growth and depth. The hosting in Goa, a historic football hub with passionate support and world-class venues, adds to the local and national excitement.
Support Table: AIFF Super Cup 2025-26 Group Stage
SN | Date | Team A | Team B | Time (IST) | Venue | Live Streaming/Telecast | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 25-10-2025 | Mohun Bagan Super Giant | Chennaiyin FC | 07:30 PM | JLN Stadium, Fatorda | Star Sports, JioHotstar | Top seed clash |
2 | 25-10-2025 | East Bengal FC | Dempo Sports Club | 04:30 PM | GMC Bambolim Stadium | Indian Football YouTube | Dempo replaces Real Kashmir |
3 | 26-10-2025 | FC Goa | Jamshedpur FC | 07:30 PM | JLN Stadium, Fatorda | Star Sports, JioHotstar | Defending champions |
4 | 26-10-2025 | NorthEast United FC | Inter Kashi | 04:30 PM | GMC Bambolim Stadium | Indian Football YouTube | Newly promoted Inter Kashi |
5 | 27-10-2025 | Sporting Club Delhi | Mumbai City FC | 07:30 PM | JLN Stadium, Fatorda | Star Sports, JioHotstar | Rebranded Hyderabad FC |
6 | 27-10-2025 | Punjab FC | Gokulam Kerala FC | 04:30 PM | GMC Bambolim Stadium | Indian Football YouTube | I-League representation |
7 | 28-10-2025 | Chennaiyin FC | East Bengal FC | 04:30 PM | GMC Bambolim Stadium | Indian Football YouTube | Kolkata rivalry buildup |
8 | 28-10-2025 | Mohun Bagan Super Giant | Dempo Sports Club | 07:30 PM | JLN Stadium, Fatorda | Star Sports, JioHotstar | ISL vs. I-League |
9 | 29-10-2025 | FC Goa | Inter Kashi | 07:30 PM | JLN Stadium, Fatorda | Star Sports, JioHotstar | Goa’s home advantage |
10 | 29-10-2025 | Jamshedpur FC | NorthEast United FC | 04:30 PM | GMC Bambolim Stadium | Indian Football YouTube | Northeast derby |
11 | 30-10-2025 | Bengaluru FC | Mohammedan Sporting Club | 07:30 PM | JLN Stadium, Fatorda | Star Sports, JioHotstar | 2018 champions vs. I-League |
12 | 30-10-2025 | Rajasthan United FC | Kerala Blasters FC | 04:30 PM | GMC Bambolim Stadium | Indian Football YouTube | Southern challenge |
13 | 31-10-2025 | Mohun Bagan Super Giant | East Bengal FC | 07:30 PM | JLN Stadium, Fatorda | Star Sports, JioHotstar | Kolkata derby! |
14 | 31-10-2025 | Dempo Sports Club | Chennaiyin FC | 04:30 PM | GMC Bambolim Stadium | Indian Football YouTube | Dempo’s big test |
15 | 01-11-2025 | FC Goa | NorthEast United FC | 07:30 PM | JLN Stadium, Fatorda | Star Sports, JioHotstar | Top seed battle |
16 | 01-11-2025 | Inter Kashi | Jamshedpur FC | 04:30 PM | GMC Bambolim Stadium | Indian Football YouTube | I-League vs. ISL |
17 | 02-11-2025 | Gokulam Kerala FC | Bengaluru FC | 07:30 PM | JLN Stadium, Fatorda | Star Sports, JioHotstar | Kerala vs. Karnataka |
18 | 02-11-2025 | Mohammedan Sporting Club | Punjab FC | 04:30 PM | GMC Bambolim Stadium | Indian Football YouTube | Historic clubs collide |
19 | 03-11-2025 | Kerala Blasters FC | Sporting Club Delhi | 04:30 PM | GMC Bambolim Stadium | Indian Football YouTube | Southern vs. Northern |
20 | 03-11-2025 | Rajasthan United FC | Mumbai City FC | 07:30 PM | JLN Stadium, Fatorda | Star Sports, JioHotstar | I-League underdog |
21 | 05-11-2025 | Bengaluru FC | Punjab FC | 07:30 PM | JLN Stadium, Fatorda | Star Sports, JioHotstar | ISL heavyweights |
22 | 05-11-2025 | Gokulam Kerala FC | Mohammedan Sporting Club | 04:30 PM | GMC Bambolim Stadium | Indian Football YouTube | I-League showdown |
23 | 06-11-2025 | Mumbai City FC | Kerala Blasters FC | 07:30 PM | JLN Stadium, Fatorda | Star Sports, JioHotstar | High-stakes Group D |
24 | 06-11-2025 | Rajasthan United FC | Sporting Club Delhi | 04:30 PM | GMC Bambolim Stadium | Indian Football YouTube | Group D closer |
This comprehensive 2025-26 Super Cup season offers an inclusive curtain-raiser and mid-season spectacle for Indian football, poised to elevate the game’s standards and showcase India’s evolving football ecosystem.
