To address growing concerns over the Indian Super League’s (ISL) future, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has confirmed that the Super Cup will be held ahead of the ISL season.
The decision follows a high-level meeting between AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey and ISL club representatives, where eight clubs expressed uncertainty over the league’s continuity.
The Super Cup, traditionally held post-ISL, will now occupy the September–December window. “We anticipate the tournament to begin in the second or third week of September,” said Chaubey, adding that the format may be tweaked to accommodate club preparations.
The ISL’s future hangs in the balance due to the expiration of the Master Rights Agreement with Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) and a Supreme Court stay on further negotiations. This has led to operational suspensions by clubs like Bengaluru FC, Chennaiyin FC, and Odisha FC.
Introduced in 2018 to replace the Federation Cup, the Super Cup has largely been hosted at Bhubaneswar’s Kalinga Stadium. FC Goa clinched the most recent title under coach Manolo Marquez, defeating Jamshedpur FC in the final.
The AIFF plans another round of discussions with clubs in the coming weeks to finalise the tournament’s kick-off date and format.
