The AIFF Super Cup 2025–26 kicks off today in Goa, setting the stage for one of the most competitive and high-stakes editions in the tournament’s history.
The opening day brings two crucial Group A fixtures East Bengal FC vs Dempo SC at the GMC Stadium, Bambolim (16:30 IST), followed by Mohun Bagan Super Giant vs Chennaiyin FC at the PJN Stadium, Fatorda (19:30 IST). With only the group winners advancing to the semi-finals, every goal and every point on Matchday 1 carries immense weight. Both Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan Super Giant (MBSG) and East Bengal FC (EBFC) enter as clear favorites to progress, but the margin of victory could be the defining factor in this tightly packed group.
Group A features four of India’s most storied clubs: Mohun Bagan Super Giant, East Bengal FC, Chennaiyin FC, and Dempo Sports Club. Between them, they share over a century of domestic glory, yet only one can progress to the knockouts. What makes this group fascinating is the contrast in preparation and readiness. The Kolkata clubs arrive battle-hardened MBSG through continental action in the AFC Champions League Two, and EBFC through deep domestic runs in the Durand Cup and IFA Shield.
In stark contrast, Chennaiyin FC faces a fitness crisis, having gone over five months without competitive football, while Dempo SC — a last-minute entrant replacing Real Kashmir FC must compete with an all-Indian squad after being unable to register their foreign players in time.
This gulf in match sharpness and resources could define the opening day’s outcomes.
East Bengal FC vs Dempo SC: The Early Benchmark
The day’s first fixture will see East Bengal FC take on Dempo SC, a clash that revives a classic Indian rivalry, though one now separated by divisions and structure.
Under Óscar Bruzón, East Bengal enters the Super Cup with rhythm, confidence, and a clear tactical identity. The club reached the Durand Cup semi-finals and the IFA Shield final, giving them valuable competitive minutes ahead of the Super Cup. Their attack, led by the likes of Cleiton Silva, Nandhakumar Sekar, and Naorem Mahesh Singh, has been in excellent form. Bruzón’s emphasis on pressing football and quick transitions suits the Goan conditions, and with full foreign quotas available, East Bengal are expected to dominate possession and push aggressively from the start.
Given the “group winner only” format, East Bengal will be aiming not just for victory but for a large goal margin, which could prove decisive later. A convincing win today would force MBSG to match or exceed that goal difference in the evening fixture.
Dempo’s Uphill Battle
For Dempo SC, the return to top-tier competition is both a proud and precarious moment. Once the standard-bearers of Indian club football with five national titles, they now find themselves in a transitional phase fielding a domestic-only squad due to logistical constraints. Coach Samir Naik has acknowledged the challenge, focusing on defensive organization and discipline to contain stronger opposition. Key players like Shanon Viegas and Clifford Miranda Jr. will need to deliver exceptional performances for Dempo to remain competitive.
However, without foreign reinforcements such as the influential Marcus Joseph, Dempo faces an almost impossible task against a full-strength East Bengal.
Prediction: East Bengal FC to win comfortably, potentially by a margin of 3–0 or higher, setting an early tone in Group A.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant vs Chennaiyin FC: Clash of Unequal Readiness
The evening fixture at Fatorda features one of the most anticipated matchups of the tournament a battle between the reigning ISL champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant and a rebuilding Chennaiyin FC side under Clifford Miranda, who recently became the club’s first Indian head coach.
Mohun Bagan arrive at the Super Cup in peak competitive condition. Having played continuously in the AFC Champions League Two since September, the squad is well-tuned tactically and physically. The presence of stars like Dimitri Petratos, Hugo Boumous, Jason Cummings, and Anirudh Thapa ensures that MBSG possess both quality and cohesion. Their continental experience coupled with coach Antonio López Habas’ proven tournament acumen makes them one of the strongest sides in the competition. The team’s high pressing, vertical passing style, and fitness levels give them a decisive edge over any domestic opponent currently short on match rhythm.
Given the conditions, Habas might opt for early intensity, seeking to break the game open within the first half and then manage tempo.
For Chennaiyin FC, the situation is far from ideal. Having not played competitive football for over five months, the players are still working toward match fitness. Coach Clifford Miranda was candid in his assessment, calling the schedule three matches in six days “a crazy demand” for a team that only had 12 days of training before kickoff.
Miranda’s 24-man all-Indian squad which includes the likes of Pritam Kotal, Mandar Rao Dessai, Jiteshwor Singh, and Farukh Choudhary is talented but undercooked. Against a match-ready MBSG, Chennaiyin will likely adopt a low-block defensive setup, prioritizing shape and endurance over pressing. The tactical key will be whether Chennaiyin can hold their structure under pressure. If they can keep the game level until the hour mark, their substitutions and counter-attacks could offer moments of opportunity. But fatigue and lack of rhythm may prove decisive late in the match.
Prediction: Mohun Bagan Super Giant to win 2–0 or 3–1, leveraging their superior conditioning and attacking depth.
Group A Dynamics and Matchday Implications
The opening day is likely to establish early clarity in Group A. Both East Bengal and Mohun Bagan are expected to win, making their October 28 Kolkata Derby a potential group decider. Given the “group winner only” rule, goal difference effectively becomes an additional point. If East Bengal win heavily against Dempo in the afternoon, Mohun Bagan will enter the evening fixture knowing that a narrow victory won’t suffice a scenario that could push both teams toward attacking football across all group matches.
For Chennaiyin FC and Dempo SC, survival in the group may depend on damage control. A heavy defeat in the opener could end their campaign before the second matchday.
The AIFF Super Cup 2025–26 begins as a microcosm of Indian football’s current realities historic legacies meeting modern disparities. East Bengal and Mohun Bagan, armed with full squads and competitive rhythm, look poised to dominate, while Chennaiyin and Dempo confront structural and preparatory limitations. Yet, football’s unpredictability remains its charm. For Dempo, the stage offers exposure and pride; for Chennaiyin, it’s a test of resolve and tactical discipline. But for the Kolkata giants, the mandate is clear win big, win early, and seize control of Group A before the derby showdown.
