Is the AIFF Super Cup in jeopardy of being scrapped?

AIFF Super Cup faces an uncertain future after mismanagement by football’s apex body.

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) is heading into troubled waters after its latest setback in organizing the Super Cup for the start of the 2025-26 season. With only a few weeks remaining till the end of the Indian Super League (ISL) regular season, the Indian football’s apex body is finding it difficult to find a suitable venue and confirm dates for the tournament.

The tournament’s last edition was organized in Odisha, and around Rs. 3 crores were spent on the production and broadcast rights of the matches to AIFF’s marketing partners. The last edition witnessed East Bengal FC win their first-ever silverware since the 2012 Federation Cup triumph.

Is the Super Cup really in danger of being scrapped?

While looking for a suitable window to hold the Super Cup, the AIFF has been unable to find an appropriate slot. The federation has also been mindful of the escalating costs if it is carried throughout the season in a home-and-away format away from the traditional format of the conclusion of the ISL and I-League. 

The cost-sensitive operations of the AIFF, who have been shy of bearing costs, have faced rejections from different state football associations for organizing the tournament. The most recent rejection came from the Goa Football Association, whose reluctancy has forced them to scamper for an alternative host, with Uttarakhand emerging as a possibility.

ALSO READ: ISL: Teams who have scored the most points in a single campaign

The AIFF Super Cup has witnessed a lot of hurdles

The AIFF had planned to revamp the last edition with a 16-team format featuring 13 ISL and the top three I-League clubs as per the latest standings. The tournament was also supposed to be in knockout format from April 18 after the conclusion of the ISL final on April 13 or 14.

Even after an AFC slot is up for grabs at the end of the tournament, the nature of a season-ending tournament has made the Super Cup an unattractive proposition for many clubs. The Kalyan Chaubey-led committee had pledged to revive ‘legacy competitions’, but those promises were either discontinued or fallen prey to logistical troubles. 

Can Uttarakhand be the answer for the Super Cup?

Uttarakhand Football Association is coming fresh of hosting the football competition of the National Games. The Indira Gandhi International Sports Stadium in Haldwani is already surfacing as a potential venue with the AIFF in communication for hosting the Super Cup.

The federation’s competitions committee was set to meet on Monday to discuss the tentative schedule of events. However, with no resolution yet, the tournament is staring at an uncertain future in the coming weeks.

While the hopes for a swift resolution are still in progress, the current situation is very concerning news for the AIFF and Indian football fans around the subcontinent.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.