07/08/2025
Gomantbhumi LIVE :AIFF Reassures Clubs: Super Cup First, ISL Later — Football Will Go On
With uncertainty still looming over the start of the Indian Super League ( ) 2025–26 season, the All India Federation ( ) has decided to hold the ahead of the ISL to ensure that clubs have enough competitive action while talks over the league continue.
AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey made the announcement at a press conference in New Delhi, saying that the Super Cup—usually held at the end of the season—will now take place in September, likely in the second or third week.
The tournament format may also be changed due to the sudden shift in timing.
“We’re planning to hold the Super Cup before the ISL due to the concerns raised by clubs. Some teams need six to eight weeks to prepare and get players back. We will announce the final dates soon,” Chaubey said.
The move comes amid tensions between the AIFF and Football Sports Development Limited ( ) over the Master Rights Agreement, which expires this December. This dispute has put the ISL’s upcoming season in doubt and forced some clubs to take extreme measures.
For instance, has suspended the salaries of star player Sunil Chhetri and others, while has paused first-team operations. On August 5, also suspended all staff and player contracts. However, the AIFF clarified it has no control over such internal club decisions.
“It’s up to each club how they handle salaries or operations. That’s how most professional leagues work,” Chaubey stated.
During the meeting, the AIFF reassured all 13 ISL clubs that the top-tier league will go ahead, as usual. The suggested starting the Super Cup first so that the overall season could end by May 31, 2026—a key requirement to protect India’s eligibility for competitions.
“Football is a matter of national interest. Individuals may change, but the game must go on,” Chaubey said.
He confirmed that a follow-up meeting will be held within the next 7 to 10 days to finalize Super Cup dates and other details.
Chaubey also stressed that other football tournaments across the country remain unaffected. He noted that India hosted 22 national tournaments with over 1,800 matches last year, and preparations are underway for more.
• The AIFF Club kicked off on August 3 in Rudrapur, .
• The U17 Women’s and U23 Men’s national teams are training in Bengaluru.
• The U20 Women’s team is currently playing in the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers in Myanmar.
“Football in India will continue uninterrupted,” Chaubey assured.
The next few weeks will be crucial as the AIFF and clubs prepare for a potentially revised football calendar, starting with the Super Cup in September, followed by the much-awaited ISL season—if talks with FSDL are resolved in time.
