Super Cup 2025-26 Semifinals: East Bengal take on Punjab FC; Mumbai City FC clash against FC Goa

The AIFF Super Cup 2025-26 semi-final clashes will take place in Goa.

The AIFF Super Cup 2025-26 has reached its knockout stage, with four ISL heavyweights set to clash in a do-or-die encounter. The four teams are East Bengal FC, FC Goa, Punjab FC, and Mumbai City FC. After an intense group stage, these teams are one step away from sealing a place in the grand finale.

Both semifinals will take place on 4 December 2025 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Fatorda Stadium), Goa. Fans will expect an exciting evening of Indian football.

Semifinal 1: East Bengal vs Punjab FC

• Fatorda Stadium, Goa
• 4:30 PM IST – 4 December 2025

East Bengal FC have shown a lot of competitiveness and composure in the Domestic competitions this year so far. They reached the Semifinals of the Durand Cup and eventually lost the match to Diamond Harbour FC. Also played really well in the prestigious IFA Shield tournament this year until they lost the final in a penalty shoot-out against their arch-rivals, Mohun Bagan Super Giant.

Since the Red and Gold Brigade’s inception into the ISL in 2020, this year they have built the strongest team with the likes of Miguel Figueira Damasceno, Mohammed Rashid in the midfield, along with Saul Crespo, Kevin Sibille in the defence, along with the likes of Anwar Ali, Jay Gupta, and Rakip.

They have new foreign recruits in the forward zone Moroccan Hamid Ahadad and Japanese Hiroshi Ibusuki, who are also among the goals. Along with all these, they have players like Bipin Singh, Mahesh Naorem Singh, Edmund Lalrindika, Jeakson Singh, PV Vishnu, who can score goals and create defence-breaking passes when needed.

After sharing points in the first clash against Dempo SC in this year’s Super Cup, several questions were raised against Oscar Bruzon’s side. But they proved everyone wrong after beating one of the strongest ISL teams, Chennaiyin FC. Although Chennaiyin played with an all-Indian team, East Bengal still put up an impressive performance against them.

After all this, the stake was high, and it all came down to the decider, the Kolkata Derby, where East Bengal proved again why they are superior this year. They held back a strong side and their arch-rivals, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, in a stalemate derby. This was enough to make them table-toppers of Group A with an advantage in goal difference to reach the knockouts.

East Bengal will try to win back the Super Cup again in 2024 and gain the AFC slot to compete in Asia’s continental competition. This will be the best gift from Oscar Bruzon and his side to their ardent supporters before the ISL and Christmas. But before all this, they need to beat Punjab and reach the grand finale, which will be a tough task for sure.

On the other hand, Punjab FC have been one of the impressive sides of the tournament so far, with their strategic and fearless display of football under their head coach, Panagiotis Dilmperis. They have reached the knockout stages for the first time in the history of the AIFF Super Cup.

Along with Indian arrivals Arshdeep Singh and Bikash Singh Sagolsem, foreign acquisitions Samir Zeljkovic, Daniel Ramirez Fernandez, and Pablo Renan dos Santos are among the new signings, also with the likes of players like Nikhil Prabhu, Pramveer Singh, Muhammed Uvais, Manglenthang Kipgen, and Leon Augustine have shown a lot of depth, creativity, and defensive stability in the group stage matches.

They won their first two matches with impressive performances against Mohammedan and Gokulam, and won their last match in a penalty shootout to knock Bengaluru FC out of the tournament and secure a place in the semi-finals.

So the first semifinal clash between East Bengal and Punjab FC is expected to be an exciting one with the Shers aiming for their first Super Cup final and an AFC slot. Meanwhile, East Bengal managed to atone for their past mistakes.

Semifinal 2: FC Goa vs Mumbai City FC

• Fatorda Stadium, Goa
• 7:30 PM IST – 4 December 2025

FC Goa, the defending champions of the tournament, recently played in the AFC Champions League 2. They have played this year’s tournament with much competitiveness, intense vigour, and passion.

Among the players, they have Borja Fernandez, Iker Guarrotxena Vallejo, Dejan Dražić, Brison Fernandes, Brendan Fernandes, and Sandesh Jhingan have shown a lot of creativity, depth, and defensive stability in the group stage matches. They have won their first two group stage matches with a lot of dominance, which sealed their spot in the semifinal, although they got defeated by NorthEast United in their last group match.

Manolo Marquez and his team would like to defend their title and gain the AFC slot again. Previously, FC Goa have won two Super Cup titles, in 2019 and 2025. They would like to win the Coastal Derby against the Islanders and move to the Grand Finale.

Mumbai City FC are one of the unpredictable and strongest teams of ISL so far. Peter Kratky’s side was a bit scratchy in their display of football in this year’s Super Cup. Among the players, they have Vikram Partap Singh, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Jorge Ortiz, Jorge Pereyra Díaz, and Valpuia have shown a lot of depth and composure after winning their first group match against Sporting Delhi with a dominant win (4-0).

Shockingly lost against Rajasthan United in their second match (1-0). But they won the Southern Derby against Kerala Blasters FC (1–0) through a last-minute own goal, ensuring their semi-final spot via the head-to-head rule with Kerala Blasters.

The Islanders will be looking to return to the AFC tournament and win their first Super Cup title. But before all this, they need to beat the Gaurs and reach the final, which will be an intense battle to watch out for.

AIFF Super Cup 2025 – Semifinals at a glance

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