The AIFF has approved a September 4 start for the 2026-27 Indian Super League but deferred a final decision on the league's governance structure, with further discussions set to continue between the federation and ISL clubs.
Defending champions East Bengal kick-off their campaign against a qualifier, while I-League champions Salgaocar take on Mumbai FC on the inaugural day of the 33rd Federation Cup football tournament, on September 17 in Kolkata and Pune respectively.
East Bengal brought their AFC Cup campaign back on track with a 1-0 victory over Yemen's Ahli Sana'a in a Group D league match in Kolkata on Tuesday. Edmilson Marquis slotted in a spectacular half-volley to ensure full points for the Kolkata giants, who now have three points from two outings.
NorthEast United inched closer to a playoffs berth with a 2-1 win over 10-man SC East Bengal in the ISL
East Bengal got the better of Mohammedan Sporting by the odd goal in three at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on Tuesday evening to move up to seventh in the Airtel I-League table.
The Tuskers now have 16 points from seven matches, three clear of FC Goa who have played two matches less.
East Bengal, FC Goa, Mumbai City FC and Punjab FC are the semifinalists.
The season-opening Super Cup will kick off from October 25 in Goa, an official of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) said on Tuesday.
Despite fielding their reserve team, East Bengal dominated the proceedings to hammer Balestier Khalsa FC 3-0 for their first win this season in the the AFC Cup football tournament
Nigerian striker Ernest Jeremiah scored a fine hat-trick as East Bengal beat Turkmenistan's Nebitchi FC in their concluding AFC Cup match.
NorthEast United FC were left to rue missed chances, particularly at the end, as they settled for a 1-1 draw against Delhi Dynamos FC in an Indian Super League (ISL) clash, in Guwahati, on Thursday.
A former India international, who won the SAFF Cup in his debut season in 1997, Jamil had been at the helm of Mumbai FC for seven seasons but his moment of glory came when he guided Aizawl FC to their maiden I-League title in a path-breaking last season.
But East Bengal, the ace striker's club, will not oblige.
Despite a population of 1.45 billion, India's football team is ranked a lowly 138th in the world and failed to qualify for next year's Asian Cup, highlighting deep-rooted systemic issues and a failure to implement reforms that keep the World Cup dream distant for fans.
At a time when Indian football is seeking a radical overhaul, the Super Cup, starting in Goa from Saturday, could act as a catalyst for clubs to build their teams, prepare their players, get valuable match time, and keep their hopes of continental qualifications alive.
East Bengal humbled Railway FC 4-0 to maintain their all-win record in the Kolkata Super division football league.\n\n
The Sergio Lobera side now have six points from three matches, while SC East Bengal remained at the bottom of the table, yet to open their account in their debut ISL season.
EBFC head coach Oscar Bruzon brought Saul Crespo in for Nandhakumar Sekar in the 61st minute, and the move yielded instant results, with the midfielder finding the back of the net just four minutes later.
Salgaocar FC picked up their first home win of the season today as they breezed past East Bengal by a margin of 3-1 at the Tilak Maidan. The result came as a shocking performance as the Greens had been struggling for a while to get the required results, but an inspiring performance against the Red and Golds gave them much needed three points. There were a plethora of changes in Salgaocar FC lineup from their loss to Mohun Bagan. Calvin Mbarga, Semboi Haokip started in the forward line with Darryl Duffy while Saran Singh started in the back. The game got off the best possible start for Salgaocar FC, as Haokip put the Goan side ahead in the third minute. Darryl Duffy's cross from the right was received by the striker who took one touch and blasted it past Luis Barreto into the back of the net. However, there was an immediate blow to Salgaocar in the 10th minute as the Hero I-League's leading goal scorer, Darryl Duffy, picked up a groin injury, and had to be substituted by Jackichand Singh.
Real Kashmir FC's upcoming home leg I-League fixture against East Bengal was Monday shifted to New Delhi in view of the prevailing 'uncertainity' in Srinagar.
East Bengal rode on substitute Ryuji Sueoka's second-half strike to scrape past Semen Padang of Indonesia 1-0 in the home-leg of AFC Cup quarter-finals at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Tuesday.
12 ISL clubs agree to participate in Super Cup, winner to get ACL 2 play-off spot
Mumbai City FC and East Bengal FC play out 0-0 draw
East Bengal will open their campaign with a home match against Muktijoddha of Bangladesh on March 9.
Runners-up for the last two years, East Bengal ended their I-League campaign on a miserable note, going down to Shillong Lajong FC by a solitary goal at the Kalyani Stadium on Sunday.
Federation Cup champions East Bengal played out a goal-less draw against Xuan Thanh FC of Vietnam in an away match of AFC Cup at Ho Chi Minh city on Wednesday.
Though a bid cannot be expected from either of the two Kolkata giants just because the document has been taken up for consideration, this is a sign that both East Bengal and Mohun Bagan are easing their stance against the IMG-Reliance owned league.
They topped their respective groups after beating Dempo and Vasco respectively in the Durand Cup.
East Bengal's chance to stay in contention for the title race ended after they were held to a 2-2 draw by Dempo FC in the 25th round of the I-League played at Tilak Maidan Stadium in Vasco on Saturday.
Former champions East Bengal made a shock exit from the Durand Cup football tournament after a 0-1 loss to I-League newcomers Lajong FC, Shillong in a Group IV quarter-final league match at the Ambedkar Stadium on Wednesday.
Title favourites East Bengal's nightmare in the return leg of the I-League continued as they lost to Shillong Lajong FC 0-1 in a 15th round encounter in Shillong on Saturday.
Late strikes by Pintu Mahata and Sreyas V G ensured Indian Navy FT bounce back from a one-goal deficit to overcome local side TRAU FC 2-1 and book their spot in the quarterfinals of the 134th Durand Cup in Imphal on Tuesday.
Chhetri was shown the first yellow in the 22nd minute after bringing down Anirudh Thapa, something he repeated on the same player after nine minutes to be sent off.
SCEB failed to make use of a numerical advantage to settle for a 1-1 draw against FC Goa
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Goals from Matti Steinmann (6th) and Anthony Pilkington (68th) secured the victory for SCEB
After three losses on the trot, laggards SCEB finally opened their account
The AIFF has referred the Minerva issue to its League Committee and maintained silence on East Bengal's concerns.
The All India Football Federation met with Genius Sports and Indian Super League club owners to discuss a major proposal regarding the league's commercial rights, focusing on a long-term vision for India's top-tier competition.
India name six uncapped players in 26-member squad for AFC Women's Asian Cup in Australia, targeting quarterfinals and World Cup qualification.
