Super Cup: I-League clubs stay away, only two show interest

Panaji: The Super Cup is likely to have less than 16 teams with only two I-League clubs confirming their participation in the season-ending knockout tournament.
Organised by the All India Football Federation (AIFF), the Super Cup will be held in Odisha later this month.
The tournament includes participation from all top-tier Indian Super League (ISL) teams and select sides from the I-League. This season, the AIFF announced that “13 ISL clubs and three I-League clubs will participate in the fifth edition of the tournament.”
According to sources, the AIFF wrote to all I-League clubs and asked them to register their interest in the Super Cup. Should more than three clubs show interest, the plan was to have a qualifying tournament with the top three making it to the final stage.
However, only two I-League clubs – Churchill Brothers and Inter Kashi – have shown interest, leaving AIFF to draw up a tentative fixture list with ISL champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant given a bye at the pre-quarterfinal stage.
“Most I-League clubs have financial constraints,” said one club official. “It does not make sense to take part in a knockout tournament where you could end up playing just one game. This involves a month’s extra salary, travel and stay. Saving this money will help us with next year’s budget.”
According to the tentative fixtures, Kerala Blasters have been drawn to play East Bengal in the opener on April 20. FC Goa, who finished second in the league stage, will play the lower-ranked team from amongst the I-League participants – to be decided on April 6 – while the higher-ranked team will face Bengaluru FC.
“We are waiting for confirmations from a couple of ISL teams as well. They are yet to send us the Participation Team Agreement,” said a senior AIFF official.
The winners of the Super Cup will earn a chance to compete in the 2025-26 AFC Champions League 2 (ACL2) Playoffs, providing an opportunity for Indian clubs to make their mark on the continental stage.