Durand Cup 2025: Organisers plan prize money hike amid ISL club withdrawals

ISL clubs are withdrawing from the Durand Cup 2025 due to the ongoing uncertainty.

With several top Indian Super League (ISL) clubs likely to give the 2025 edition of the Durand Cup a miss, the organisers are planning to increase the tournament’s prize money to keep the competition relevant and competitive.

According to The Telegraph, the Army, which runs the Durand Cup on behalf of the three Services, is considering financial incentives for not just the winners and runners-up but also the losing semi-finalists and quarter-finalists.

“This may help the teams to motivate themselves for the tournament,” a source told The Telegraph.

In 2024, the Durand Cup prize pool stood at ₹1 crore, with the champions receiving ₹60 lakh, the runners-up ₹30 lakh, and individual awards making up the remaining ₹10 lakh. With the stakes potentially higher this year, the move is seen as a direct response to concerns over poor participation from ISL outfits.

ISL clubs reluctant to participate amid uncertainty

The pull-out trend is growing, with clubs like Bengaluru FC, FC Goa, Odisha FC, Chennaiyin FC, Hyderabad FC/FC Delhi, and Kerala Blasters postponing their pre-season and reportedly informing the organisers that they are unlikely to take part.

Even former champions Mohun Bagan SG are doubtful, with their pre-season set to begin only in mid-August.

At the heart of the issue lies the impasse over the Master Rights Agreement (MRA) between the AIFF and FSDL, which has delayed key operational decisions, including club budgets, player contracts, and calendar planning.

Indian Football at crossroads as Supreme Court decision looms

The MRA, signed in 2010, is set to expire in December 2025. While FSDL has proposed a new profit-sharing model and structural changes in governance, the Supreme Court has paused all discussions until it delivers a final verdict post July 14, 2025.

With no clarity over the ISL 2025–26 start date and financial uncertainty looming large, Indian football stands at a crossroads. Over 5,000 stakeholders—from club staff to players—await a decision that could shape the sport’s future in the country.

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