Super Cup 2025-26: Format, Teams, Start Date and AFC Spot Explained

Super Cup 2025-26 Becomes Season Opener

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has stated that the Super Cup 2025-26 will take place on October 25 in Goa, and now serve as the season opener. The Super Cup was traditionally played at the end of the season – now for the first time, it will take place before the Indian Super League (ISL) and complete the new football roadmap for Indian clubs.

This decision came about after the AIFF and FIFA approved a joint application to the Supreme Court based on the new football roadmap for the 2025-26 football calendar.

Super Cup 2025-26, they’re planning to have 16 teams total. That will probably be 12 teams from the ISL basically all the usual suspects, besides Odisha FC.

Then they’ll round it out with 4 teams from the I-League, probably Inter Kashi, Real Kashmir, Gokulam Kerala FC, and Rajasthan United.

Mixing the ISL big boys with some I-League teams should make for some good match-ups and keep things interesting.

What’s at Stake in the Super Cup?

The Super Cup 2025-26 is no longer just a trophy with only local value it has continental implications. Winner’s Reward: The winner will obtain a highly sought-after AFC Champions League 2 (ACL 2) play-off slot for the 2026-27 season.

Club Licensing Rule: Only clubs with the Premier 1 License as per the Indian Club Licensing Regulations will be allowed to take over the ACL 2 berth.

Safety Net: In the case of an unsuccessful ACL 2 play-off bid, the Indian club will be directly qualified for the AFC Challenge League (ACGL) group stage to ensure that they will have access to the continental tournament.

By way of instance, FC Goa leveraged this provision last season following their winning the Super Cup 2024-25, thereby qualifying for the ACL 2 group stages.

Super Cup 2025-26 format

The tournament will consist of a group stage and knockout format:

Group Stage: Teams will be sorted into groups (at which point you will find out in the draw on September 25), in the round robin format.

Knockouts: Top teams from the groups will advance into single-leg eliminators.

Final: November 2025, Goa

This will provide consistency of league style and excitement of knockout.

The new Super Cup is great for Indian football for a few reasons:

• A strong start: Clubs will kick off their season with some tough matches, which should help them get into shape for the ISL.
• I-League chance: Four I-League teams will get to show what they can do against the top ISL clubs.
• Road to the Continent: The chance to play in the ACL 2 play-off makes the tournament much more importan.
• Happy Fans: Goa is hosting the Super Cup in October and November, so we can expect full stadiums and lots of people watching on TV.

The Super Cup 2025-26 heralds a new chapter in Indian football, as the tourney is no longer a mere afterthought but the season’s flagship event. The 16-team contest for trophies and a place in the AFC marries local bragging rights with a chance at the wider Asian stage.

The groups will be determined by the draw on September 25, and the eager moment for the start is still waiting to be seen in Goa.