The upcoming Indian football calendar is likely to undergo a significant reshuffle in order to improve the scheduling process and fan engagement. Following the recently concluded Kalinga Super Cup—which saw disappointing attendance and few clubs fielding second-string squads—the All India Football Federation (AIFF) is now seriously considering major changes.
As per sources close to the developments, RevSportz has learnt that the Federation is planning to revive the prestigious Federation Cup, which has remained defunct since 2017, replacing the underwhelming Super Cup from next season onwards.
New-Look Calendar: Durand Cup, Federation Cup, then ISL
The upcoming season is expected to kick off with the Durand Cup, scheduled between the window of July 15 and August 25. The tournament will be played across five venues: Kokrajhar, Kolkata, Imphal, Shillong, and Jamshedpur, with Shillong likely to host the opening match.
Following the Durand Cup, the AIFF is expected to slot in the Federation Cup (or the rebranded Super Cup) during September, right before the Indian Super League (ISL) begins. The move is aimed at generating greater interest in the tournament and ensuring that clubs field full-strength squads—something that was lacking in the previous edition of the Super Cup, held at the end of the season.
Despite an AFC Cup slot being at stake, the Kalinga Super Cup failed to draw crowds, with mostly empty stands and a lukewarm response. These factors have pushed the Federation to consider moving the tournament to before the ISL, instead of holding it at the season’s tail end.
ISL Start Likely to Be Pushed Back
With this potential adjustment, the ISL—which was earlier expected to start in the second week of September—may now begin in the last week of September to accommodate the revamped Federation Cup.
However, the final decision will depend on whether all clubs and stakeholders agree to back-to-back tournaments before the start of the demanding ISL season.
Concurrent Tournaments Not Likely
Some stakeholders have proposed that the Federation Cup be run concurrently with the ISL, akin to domestic cup competitions in European football. However, such a model is unlikely to materialise this season due to logistical and scheduling challenges.
If approved, the new structure could inject fresh excitement into Indian domestic football and restore the prestige of the Federation Cup as a key tournament in the calendar.
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