DyanLeMessurier at 06:05, 13 March 2026

2026-03-13T06:05:04Z

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{{Short description|Association football tournament in India}}
{{Distinguish|text=the original [[Indian Super Cup (1997–2011)]], the match between the league and cup champions}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox football tournament
| name = AIFF Super Cup
| image = [[File:Super Cup (India) logo.png|250px]]
| organiser = [[All India Football Federation|AIFF]]
| founded = {{start date and age|2018|2|19}} (as ''AIFF Super Cup''; succeeding ''[[Indian Super Cup]]'')
| region = India
| number of teams = 16
| qualifier for = [[AFC Champions League Two]]
| current champions = [[FC Goa|Goa]] (3rd title)
| most successful club = [[FC Goa|Goa]] (3 titles)
| broadcasters = [[Star Sports (India)|Star Sports]]<br />[[JioHotstar]]
| website = {{URL|https://www.the-aiff.com/competitions/super-cup|Super Cup}}
| current = [[2025–26 AIFF Super Cup|2025–26]]
}}

The '''AIFF Super Cup''',<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.the-aiff.com/article/aiff-super-cup-2025-26-to-begin-on-october-25 |title=AIFF Super Cup 2025-26 to begin on October 25 |publisher=AIFF |date=25 September 2025 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.indiansuperleague.com/news/aiff-super-cup-2025-26-draw-teams-find-out-group-stageopponents |title=AIFF Super Cup 2025-26 draw: Teams find out group-stage opponents |publisher=Indian Super League |date=25 September 2025 }}</ref> popularly the '''Super Cup''', is the annual premier cup [[association football|football]] competition in [[football in India|India]]. It was founded on February 19, 2018 as a replacement for the [[Federation Cup (India)|Federation Cup]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Indian football calendar for 2024-25 season announced |url=https://khelnow.com/football/2024-01-indian-football-calendar |access-date=2024-01-22 |website=Khel Now |language=en}}</ref> it is organised by the [[All India Football Federation]] (AIFF).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.the-aiff.com/competitions/super-cup |title=Hero Super Cup |website=the-aiff.com |publisher=[[All India Football Federation|AIFF]] }}</ref> The competition is open to all clubs in the [[Indian Super League]] and the [[Indian Football League]], the top two divisions of the [[Indian football league system]] respectively. The winners qualify for the [[AFC Champions League Two]]. [[FC Goa|Goa]] are the current holders, the first team to win the title thrice.

==History==
On 19 February 2018, the All India Football Federation announced the creation of the Super Cup as a reformed [[Federation Cup (India)|Federation Cup]], India's main knockout football tournament.<ref name="TOI">{{cite news |last1=Saharoy |first1=Shilarze |title=Chennaiyin to face Aizawl in Super Cup on March 31 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/chennaiyin-to-face-aizawl-in-super-cup-on-march-31/articleshow/63273453.cms |access-date=12 March 2018 |work=[[The Times of India]] | date=12 March 2018 |archive-date=18 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200618022509/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/chennaiyin-to-face-aizawl-in-super-cup-on-march-31/articleshow/63273453.cms |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Indian football calendar for 2024-25 season announced |url=https://khelnow.com/football/2024-01-indian-football-calendar |access-date=2024-01-22 |website=Khel Now |language=en}}</ref> The qualifiers for the inaugural recherished tournament were held between 15–16 March. The tournament proper then commenced on 31 March and concluded with the final on 20 April 2018.<ref name="TOI" /> [[Bengaluru FC|Bengaluru]] emerged as the winners of the inaugural edition of the recherished tournament. They defeated [[East Bengal F.C.|East Bengal]] 4–1 in the final.<ref>{{cite news |title=Chhetri scores a brace as Bengaluru FC thrash East Bengal 4–1 to win title |url=https://scroll.in/field/876382/super-cup-chhetri-scores-a-brace-as-bengaluru-fc-thrash-east-bengal-4-1-to-win-title |access-date=27 April 2018 |work=[[Scroll.in]] | date=20 April 2018 |archive-date=28 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180628212214/https://scroll.in/field/876382/super-cup-chhetri-scores-a-brace-as-bengaluru-fc-thrash-east-bengal-4-1-to-win-title |url-status=live}}</ref>

In the [[2019 Indian Super Cup|second edition]], seven I-League clubs, namely [[RoundGlass Punjab F.C.|Minerva Punjab]], [[East Bengal Club|East Bengal]], [[Mohun Bagan Super Giant|Mohun Bagan]], [[NEROCA FC|NEROCA]], [[Gokulam Kerala FC|Gokulam Kerala]], [[Aizawl FC|Aizawl]] and [[Churchill Brothers FC|Churchill Brothers]] withdrew from the competition citing "unfair treatment to I-League clubs by the AIFF."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://scroll.in/field/916643/super-cup-minerva-punjab-miss-pre-match-conference-meeting-aiff-terms-it-blatant-disregard |title=Super Cup: Minerva Punjab miss pre-match conference, meeting; AIFF terms it 'blatant disregard' |date=14 March 2019 |access-date=17 March 2019 |archive-date=27 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327091521/https://scroll.in/field/916643/super-cup-minerva-punjab-miss-pre-match-conference-meeting-aiff-terms-it-blatant-disregard |url-status=live}}</ref>

From 2020 to 2022, the competition was suspended due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in India|COVID-19 pandemic]]. From the 2024 edition the competition is known as the '''Kalinga Super Cup''', as part of the title sponsorship agreement with the [[Government of Odisha]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sportstar |first=Team |date=29 November 2023 |title=Super Cup 2024 renamed as Kalinga Super Cup with winner earning AFC Cup qualification |url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/indian-football/super-cup-renamed-kalinga-start-on-january-9-2024-winner-qualifies-for-afc-cup-indian-football/article67587094.ece |access-date=2 December 2023 |website=Sportstar |language=en}}</ref> In the 2025–26 edition, it was held in the initial phase of the season as a season opener after the [[Durand Cup]] unlike previous editions.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/goa-to-host-super-cup-afc-spot-on-offer-for-winner/articleshow/123858353.cms |title=Goa to host Super Cup, AFC spot on offer for winner |publisher=The Times of India |last=Mergulhao |first=Marcus |date=13 September 2025 }}</ref>

==Competition format==
Until 2019, the competition proper was a 16-team [[knockout tournament]]. In the event of a match being drawn after the group stage, the [[extra time]] was played, followed by a [[penalty shoot-out]] if required. In 2024, the competition comprised 16 clubs in group stage. All clubs in the top tier Indian Super League entered the group stage, and the I-League clubs played qualifiers for the four remaining spots. During the group stage, clubs were divided into four groups of four, playing against each other in a single [[round-robin tournament|round-robin format]]. At the end of the group stage, the club with the most points qualified to the semi-finals. The competition then culminated with the final to determine the champions, presented with the trophy and a spot in the [[AFC Champions League Two]] qualifiers.

==Champions==
===Super Cup finals===
{| class="sortable plainrowheaders wikitable"
|-
! scope=col | Season
! scope=col style="background:gold" | Winner
! scope=col | Score
! scope=col style="background:silver" | {{nowrap|Runner-up}}
! scope=col | Venue
! scope=col | Top scorer
|-
! scope=row style=text-align:center|[[2018 AIFF Super Cup|2018]]
| '''[[Bengaluru FC|Bengaluru]]'''
| align=center | [[2018 AIFF Super Cup final|4–1]]
| {{nowrap|[[East Bengal FC|East Bengal]]}}
| {{nowrap|[[Kalinga Stadium]]}}, [[Bhubaneswar]]
| {{flagicon|IND}} [[Sunil Chhetri]] (6)
|-
! scope=row style=text-align:center|[[2019 AIFF Super Cup|2019]]
| '''[[FC Goa|Goa]]'''
| align=center | [[2019 AIFF Super Cup final|2–1]]
| [[Chennaiyin FC|Chennaiyin]]
| [[Kalinga Stadium]], [[Bhubaneswar]]
| {{flagicon|ESP}} [[Coro (footballer)|Coro]] (5)
|-
! scope=row style=text-align:center|{{nowrap|2020–2022}}
| colspan=5 align=center | ''Tournament suspended due to the [[COVID-19 in India|COVID-19]] and [[Indian national football team|Indian National Team's]] international fixtures''
|-
! scope=row style=text-align:center|[[2023 AIFF Super Cup|2023]]
| '''[[Odisha FC|Odisha]]'''
| align=center | [[2023 AIFF Super Cup final|2–1]]
| [[Bengaluru FC|Bengaluru]]
| [[Kozhikode Corporation EMS Stadium|EMS Stadium]], [[Kozhikode]]
| {{nowrap|{{flagicon|COL}} [[Wilmar Jordán]] (7)}}
|-
! scope=row style=text-align:center|[[2024 AIFF Super Cup|2024]]
| '''{{nowrap|[[East Bengal FC|East Bengal]]}}'''
| align=center | [[2024 AIFF Super Cup final|3–2]]
| [[Odisha FC|Odisha]]
| [[Kalinga Stadium]], [[Bhubaneswar]]
| {{flagicon|BRA}} [[Cleiton Silva]] (5)
|-
! scope=row style=text-align:center|[[2025 AIFF Super Cup|2025]]
| '''{{nowrap|[[FC Goa|Goa]]}}''' (2)
| align=center | [[2025 AIFF Super Cup final|3–0]]
| [[Jamshedpur FC|Jamshedpur]]
| [[Kalinga Stadium]], [[Bhubaneswar]]
| {{nowrap|{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Iker Guarrotxena]] (4)}}<br>{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Borja Herrera]] (4)
|-
! scope=row style=text-align:center|[[2025–26 AIFF Super Cup|2025–26]]
| '''{{nowrap|[[FC Goa|Goa]]}}''' (3)
| align=center | [[2025–26 AIFF Super Cup final|0–0]]<br>{{pso|6–5}}
| [[East Bengal FC|East Bengal]]
| [[Fatorda Stadium]], [[Fatorda]]
| {{flagicon|ESP}} [[Koldo Obieta]] (3)
|}

==Performance by club==
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align: center;"
|-
! scope="col" | Club
! scope="col" | Wins
! scope="col" | Winning years
! scope="col" | {{nowrap|Runners-up}}
! scope="col" | Total finals appearances
|-
! scope="row" | [[FC Goa|Goa]]
| 3
| [[2019 AIFF Super Cup final|2019]], [[2025 AIFF Super Cup final|2025]], [[2025–26 AIFF Super Cup|2025–26]]
| 0
| 3
|-
! scope="row" | [[Bengaluru FC|Bengaluru]]
| 1
| [[2018 AIFF Super Cup final|2018]]
| 1
| 2
|-
! scope="row" | [[Odisha FC|Odisha]]
| 1
| [[2023 AIFF Super Cup final|2023]]
| 1
| 2
|-
! scope="row" | {{nowrap|[[East Bengal FC|East Bengal]]}}
| 1
| [[2024 AIFF Super Cup final|2024]]
| 2
| 3
|-
! scope="row" | [[Chennaiyin FC|Chennaiyin]]
| 0
| –
| 1
| 1
|-
! scope="row" | [[Jamshedpur FC|Jamshedpur]]
| 0
| –
| 1
| 1
|}

==List of winning coaches==
{| class="sortable plainrowheaders wikitable"
|-
! scope=col | Season
! scope=col | Winning {{nowrap|Head coach}}
! scope=col | Club
! scope=col | {{nowrap|Runner-up<br>Head coach}}
! scope=col | Club
|-
! scope=row style=text-align:center|[[2018 AIFF Super Cup final|2018]]
| {{flagicon|ESP}} [[Albert Roca]]
| [[Bengaluru FC|Bengaluru]]
| {{flagicon|IND}} [[Khalid Jamil]]
| {{nowrap|[[East Bengal FC|East Bengal]]}}
|-
! scope=row style=text-align:center|[[2019 AIFF Super Cup final|2019]]
| {{flagicon|ESP}} [[Sergio Lobera]]
| [[FC Goa|Goa]]
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[John Gregory (footballer)|John Gregory]]
| [[Chennaiyin FC|Chennaiyin]]
|-
! scope=row style=text-align:center|[[2023 AIFF Super Cup final|2023]]
| {{flagicon|IND}} [[Clifford Miranda]]
| [[Odisha FC|Odisha]]
| {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Simon Grayson]]
| [[Bengaluru FC|Bengaluru]]
|-
! scope=row style=text-align:center|[[2024 AIFF Super Cup final|2024]]
| {{flagicon|ESP}} [[Carles Cuadrat]]
| {{nowrap|[[East Bengal FC|East Bengal]]}}
| {{flagicon|ESP}} [[Sergio Lobera]]
| [[Odisha FC|Odisha]]
|-
! scope=row style=text-align:center|[[2025 AIFF Super Cup final|2025]]
| {{flagicon|ESP}} [[Manolo Márquez]]
| {{nowrap|[[FC Goa|Goa]]}}
| {{flagicon|IND}} [[Khalid Jamil]]
| [[Jamshedpur FC|Jamshedpur]]
|-
! scope=row style=text-align:center|[[2025–26 AIFF Super Cup final|2025–26]]
| {{flagicon|ESP}} [[Manolo Márquez]]
| {{nowrap|[[FC Goa|Goa]]}}
| {{flagicon|ESP}} [[Óscar Bruzón]]
| [[East Bengal FC|East Bengal]]
|}

==Top scorers==
{| class="sortable plainrowheaders wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! width=20| Rank
! width=175| Player
! width=55| Goals
! width=55| {{abbr|Apps|Appearances}}
! width=140| Years
! width=140| Club(s)
|-
| 1
| align=left |{{flagicon|IND}} [[Sunil Chhetri]]
| '''11'''
| 12
| {{nowrap|2018–2025}}
| align=left| [[Bengaluru FC|Bengaluru]]
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2
| align=left |{{flagicon|COL}} [[Wilmar Jordán]]
| '''8'''
| 7
| 2023–2024
| align=left| [[NorthEast United FC|NorthEast United]], [[Punjab FC|Punjab]]
|-
| align=left |{{flagicon|BRA}} [[Diego Maurício]]
| '''8'''
| 10
| {{nowrap|2023–2024}}
| align=left| [[Odisha FC|Odisha]]
|-
| rowspan="2"| 4
| align=left |{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Coro (footballer)|Coro]]
| '''7'''
| 7
| 2018–2019
| align=left| [[FC Goa|Goa]]
|-
| align=left |{{flagicon|IND}} [[Nandhakumar Sekar]]
| '''7'''
| 14
| 2023–2025
| align=left| [[Odisha FC|Odisha]], [[East Bengal FC|East Bengal]]
|-
| 6
| align=left |{{flagicon|LBR}} [[Ansumana Kromah]]
| '''6'''
| 8
| 2018–2023
| align=left| [[East Bengal FC|East Bengal]], [[Churchill Brothers FC Goa|Churchill Brothers]]
|-
| rowspan="3"| 7
| align=left |{{flagicon|VEN}} [[Miku (footballer)|Miku]]
| '''5'''
| 5
| 2018–2019
| align=left| [[Bengaluru FC|Bengaluru]]
|-
| align=left |{{nowrap|{{flagicon|GRE}} [[Dimitrios Diamantakos]]}}
| '''5'''
| 6
| 2023–2024
| align=left| {{nowrap|[[Kerala Blasters FC|Kerala Blasters]]}}
|-
| align=left |{{flagicon|BRA}} [[Cleiton Silva]]
| '''5'''
| 8
| 2023–2024
| align=left| [[East Bengal FC|East Bengal]]
|}

==Sponsorship and media coverage==
===Sponsorship===
The title sponsor for the Super Cup was [[Hero MotoCorp]] until the 2023 edition.<ref name="Hero">{{cite news |title=East Bengal seal semi-final berth in Hero Super Cup |url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/east-bengal-seal-semi-final-berth-in-hero-super-cup-118040800618_1.html |access-date=27 April 2018 |work=[[Business Standard]] | date=8 April 2018 |archive-date=6 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006173244/https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/east-bengal-seal-semi-final-berth-in-hero-super-cup-118040800618_1.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Hero MotoCorp was also the title sponsor for the Indian Super League and I-League, the leagues which comprise Super Cup participants.<ref>{{cite news |title=Four teams, one shot at glory: Here are the scenarios for the I-League title race ahead of final day |url=https://scroll.in/field/870996/four-teams-one-shot-at-glory-here-are-the-scenarios-for-the-i-league-title-race-ahead-of-final-day |access-date=27 April 2018 |work=[[Scroll.in]] | date=6 March 2018 |archive-date=10 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180810205213/https://scroll.in/field/870996/four-teams-one-shot-at-glory-here-are-the-scenarios-for-the-i-league-title-race-ahead-of-final-day |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Indian Super League (ISL) 2017–18: Full Schedule, match-time and results |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/indian-super-league/indian-super-league-isl-2017-18-full-schedule-match-time-results/articleshow/61687703.cms |access-date=27 April 2018 |work=[[The Times of India]] | date=17 November 2017 |archive-date=28 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180428093607/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/indian-super-league/indian-super-league-isl-2017-18-full-schedule-match-time-results/articleshow/61687703.cms |url-status=live}}</ref> The next title sponsor was the [[Government of Odisha]] with the tournament being known as Kalinga Super Cup.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kalinga Super Cup will kick off in Odisha from January 9, 2024 |url=https://www.the-aiff.com/article/kalinga-super-cup-will-kick-off-in-odisha-from-january-9-2024 |access-date=29 November 2023 |website=the-aiff.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Odisha's rise as a shining example for sports infra |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/sports/others/odishas-rise-as-a-shining-example-for-sports-infra-101701618416050.html |access-date=3 December 2023 |website=Hindustan Times}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;"
|-
! Period
! Title Sponsor
! Tournament
|-
| 2018–2023
| [[Hero MotoCorp]]
| Hero AIFF Super Cup
|-
| 2024–2025
| [[Government of Odisha]] and [[Odisha Tourism Development Corporation|Odisha Tourism]]
| Kalinga AIFF Super Cup
|-
| 2025–present
| ''none''
| AIFF Super Cup
|}

===Media coverage===
[[Star Sports (Indian TV network)|Star Sports]] was the official broadcaster for the AIFF Super Cup, with all matches being broadcast on the channel, and [[JioHotstar]] was the official online streaming partner of the tournament. In 2023, [[Sony Sports Network|Sony Sports]] and [[FanCode]] became the official media partners. Back again since 2024, [[Star Sports (Indian TV network)|Star Sports]] & [[JioStar|JioHotstar]] currently broadcast the tournament.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;"

|+ Television
! Period
! Broadcaster
! Region
|-
| rowspan = 9 | 2018–2019
| [[Star Sports (Indian TV network)|Star Sports]]
| [[India]], [[Afghanistan]], [[Bangladesh]], [[Bhutan]], [[Maldives]], [[Nepal]], [[Pakistan]], [[Sri Lanka]]
|-
| [[Fox Sports (Southeast Asian TV network)|Fox Sports]]
| [[Australia]], [[Brunei]], [[Cambodia]], [[Hong Kong]], [[Indonesia]], [[Laos]], [[Macau]], [[Malaysia]], [[Myanmar]], [[Mongolia]], [[Papua New Guinea]], [[Philippines]], [[Singapore]], [[Taiwan]], [[Thailand]], [[Vietnam]]
|-
| [[ATN Channel]]
| [[Canada]]
|-
| [[ESPN+]]
| [[United States of America]]
|-
| [[OSN Sports]]
| [[Algeria]], [[Bahrain]], [[Egypt]], [[Iran]], [[Iraq]], [[Israel]], [[Jordan]], [[Kuwait]], [[Lebanon]], [[Libya]], [[Morocco]], [[Oman]], [[Palestine]], [[Qatar]], [[Saudi Arabia]], [[Syria]], [[Tunisia]], [[Turkey]], [[United Arab Emirates]], [[Yemen]]
|-
| [[Star India|Star Gold UK]]
| [[England]], [[Ireland]], [[Northern Ireland]], [[Scotland]], [[Wales]]
|-
| [[SuperSport (South African broadcaster)|SuperSport]]
| [[South Africa]], [[Sub-Saharan Africa]]
|-
| [[Eurosport]]
| [[Europe]]
|-
| [[ESPN Africa]]
| [[Africa|Parts of Africa]]
|-
| 2024–present
| [[Star Sports (India)|Star Sports]]
| [[India]]
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left;"

|+ Online streaming
! Period
! Broadcaster
! Region
|-
| rowspan = 2 | 2018–2019
| rowspan = 2 | [[Disney+ Hotstar]]
| [[India]]
|-
| [[World]]wide
|-
| 2023
| [[FanCode]]
| [[India]]
|-
| 2024
| [[JioCinema]]
| [[India]]
|-
| rowspan = 2 | 2025–present
| [[Disney+ Hotstar|JioHotstar]]
| [[India]]
|-
|}

==Prize money==
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Super Cup money distribution<ref>{{cite web |title=Kalinga Super Cup 2024: Prize Money, Highest Goal Scorers, Complete List of Award Winners, Best Player |url=https://news.abplive.com/sports/football/kalinga-super-cup-2024-prize-money-highest-goal-scorers-award-winners-list-best-player-1660184 |publisher=ABP Live |date=January 29, 2024 |access-date=April 21, 2025}}</ref>
! Position/Award !! Prize money (INR)
|-
| Champions || ₹25,00,000
|-
| Runners-up || ₹15,00,000
|-
| Best player || ₹2,50,000
|-
| Golden boot || ₹2,50,000
|}

==See also==
* [[History of Indian football]]
* [[Durand Cup]]
* [[I-League 2|Indian Football League 2]]
* [[I-League 3|Indian Football League 3]]
* [[Indian State Leagues|State leagues]]
* [[Indian Super Cup (1997–2011)]]
* [[Institutional League]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.supercup.in/ Archived website]

{{AIFF Super Cup}}
{{Football in India}}
{{National football Cups (AFC region)}}

[[Category:AIFF Super Cup| ]]
[[Category:Men's football competitions in India|Super Cup]]
[[Category:Football cup competitions in India|Super Cup]]
[[Category:Men's national association football cups in Asia|India]]
[[Category:All India Football Federation competitions|Super Cup]]
[[Category:2018 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Recurring sporting events established in 2018]]

AIFF Super Cup - Revision history

DyanLeMessurier at 06:05, 13 March 2026