THE SEASON-OPENING Super Cup will get underway on 25 October in Goa, an All India Football Federation (AIFF) official confirmed on Tuesday.
Once regarded as the season’s curtain closer, the Super Cup will now precede the Indian Super League (ISL) after the AIFF and ISL clubs agreed to reschedule in light of the league’s delayed commencement.
All ISL sides, barring Odisha FC, have committed to participating. They will be joined by four I-League outfits — Inter Kashi, Real Kashmir, Gokulam Kerala FC and Rajasthan United. The tournament draw is scheduled to take place virtually on Thursday.
The AIFF has informed clubs that the Super Cup winners will earn a play-off berth in the AFC Champions League 2 for the 2026–27 season, mirroring FC Goa’s qualification for the current edition. However, the champions must also hold a Premier 1 Licence under the Indian Club Licensing Regulations applicable to that season.
