Which clubs will represent India in Asian competitions for 2025-26 season?

FC Goa had impressed in their 2021 AFC Champions League run.

The 2024-25 Indian football season is behind us with the conclusion of the Kalinga Super Cup. FC Goa dominated Jamshedpur FC in the final, winning the game 3-0 and punching their ticket to play in Asian competition next season.

The triumph was justified as Manolo Marquez’s side performed exceptionally well after a slow start in their Indian Super League (ISL) campaign. As we head into the summer break, the Gaurs will certainly be planning for next season with an eye to excel in Asia.

India is yet to win a trophy at the club level in Asian competitions. Here are the three clubs that will be tasked to get India silverware in AFC competitions next season:

East Bengal FC Women

While the Men’s side had another season to forget in the Indian Super League, the East Bengal women brought home silverware. The Red and Gold Brigade won the 2024-25 Indian Women’s League (IWL) by finishing at the top of the tree with 37 points from 14 league games.

Having comprehensively won the league by eight points ahead of second-placed Gokulam Kerala, East Bengal punched their ticket to Asian football. The Kolkata-based club have qualified for the preliminary round of the 2025-26 AFC Women’s Champions League.

Odisha FC’s women’s team qualified for the tournament in the 2024-25 season and became the first team to make it to the group stage after winning their preliminary group. It has to be seen if the East Bengal women can do one better in the competition’s second edition.

Mohun Bagan Super Giant

While the East Bengal women made Kolkata proud in the IWL, it was their fierce city rivals Mohun Bagan Super Giant, who took the ISL by storm this season. Having made key acquisitions and signed Jose Molina as their head coach, the Green and Maroon Brigade were the favourites to win the silverware this term.

Rising up to the expectations, the Mariners didn’t disappoint as they clinched the ISL League Shield by picking up a record 56 points and finishing eight points better than second-placed FC Goa. Mohun Bagan then went on to complete an ISL double by winning the ISL Cup, making them only the second club to do so after Mumbai City FC.

Having won the ISL Shield, Jose Molina’s side were given a direct entry in the group stage of the 2025-26 AFC Champions League Two. Mohun Bagan were disqualified from the same competition last season after they refused to travel to Iran due to unrest in the country. Hence, they will have a massive point to prove this time around.

FC Goa

Having finished second in their 2024-25 ISL league campaign, FC Goa missed out on direct qualification to the AFC Champions League Two. However, their Kalinga Super Cup win means that Manolo Marquez’s side now have a chance to join Mohun Bagan in the tournament.

FC Goa will compete in the playoff qualifiers of the West Zone in the AFC Champions League Two. The Gaurs will face either Arkadag, Al-Seeb or Regar-TadAZ Tursunzoda in a one-off game. The winner of this match will move on to the group stage of ACL 2, whereas the loser will play in the AFC Challenge League.

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