The AIFF Super Cup 2025–26, which kicked off on October 25, marks a turning point in Indian football’s domestic calendar.
Traditionally an end-of-season competition, the Super Cup has been repositioned as the season opener amid uncertainty surrounding the Indian Super League (ISL) and the renewal of the Master Rights Agreement (MRA) between AIFF and FSDL. With the ISL on temporary hold, the Super Cup has assumed the role of a high-stakes bridge tournament providing not only competitive continuity but also serving as the exclusive qualification route to the AFC Champions League 2 (ACL2).
Nowhere is this intensity more evident than in Group B, which brings together four distinctly profiled sides FC Goa, NorthEast United, Jamshedpur FC, and Inter Kashi FC each approaching the competition from unique positions of strength, rebuilding, and ambition.
The decision to move the Super Cup to the front of the season was born of necessity. With ISL clubs facing uncertainty around player contracts, match schedules, and finances, the AIFF collaborated with participating teams to reposition the tournament as the first major competitive platform of the 2025–26 season. But beyond crisis management, this adjustment has transformed the Super Cup into a tournament of immediate consequence. With only one qualification spot for the AFC Champions League 2 on offer, every match now carries disproportionate weight.
Clubs are fielding full-strength squads from the outset, treating the event as both a continental gateway and a symbolic reaffirmation of competitive stability in Indian football’s shifting ecosystem.
Group B Overview: Balance, Intrigue, and Rivalries
Group B featuring FC Goa, NorthEast United FC, Jamshedpur FC, and Inter Kashi FC may well be the most evenly balanced of the four groups. It combines established ISL pedigree with the fresh momentum of I-League champions Inter Kashi, who arrive as a wildcard with something to prove.
The group began dramatically with NorthEast United and Inter Kashi playing out a 2–2 draw on opening day, a result that underscored the shrinking gap between the top two tiers of Indian football. Kashi, fielding an all-Indian squad due to visa delays for foreign players, stunned many with their tactical discipline and resilience, twice equalizing against a full-strength Highlanders side.
That stalemate means Wednesday’s doubleheader Jamshedpur vs NorthEast (16:30 IST) and Goa vs Inter Kashi (19:30 IST) will be decisive in shaping qualification dynamics. FC Goa got better of Jamshedpur 2-0 in the first match
FC Goa The Group’s Benchmark
FC Goa entered the Super Cup as the defending champion and the group’s top seed. Under Manolo Márquez, the Gaurs have sustained a culture of technical football and high-possession play, making them perennial contenders in domestic cups.
Márquez’s side is well-structured and experienced, with players like Brandon Fernandes dictating midfield tempo, Noah Sadaoui adding penetration from the wings, and Carlos Martinez providing a consistent goal threat. Despite mixed results in the AFC Champions League 2 qualifiers earlier this year, Goa remains tactically coherent and confident.
Goa’s major test, however, will be in adapting quickly to match tempo. With the ISL season suspended, players lack competitive minutes, and maintaining sharpness across three matches in a condensed group stage will be vital. A win over Inter Kashi tonight would immediately affirm their dominance and put them in pole position for the semifinals with two wins.
NorthEast United FC: Benali’s Resurgence Continues
NorthEast United have enjoyed a remarkable resurgence under Juan Pedro Benali, winning the 2025 Durand Cup and re-establishing themselves as one of India’s most improved outfits. After years of underperformance, the Highlanders now operate with a clear tactical identity compact defensive lines, rapid transitions, and a strong spine anchored by captain Miguel Zabaco.
Benali’s extended contract through 2027 signals confidence in his long-term project. Moroccan striker Alaaeddine Ajaraie has been prolific, scoring consistently across competitions and opening the Super Cup with another goal against Inter Kashi.
For NorthEast, the Jamshedpur fixture is critical. A victory would take them to four points, making the final clash against Goa all to win. However, history suggests caution their last six meetings with Jamshedpur have produced an even record (2W, 2D, 2L). Execution in the final third will decide whether Benali’s side can continue its upward trajectory.
Jamshedpur FC: Searching for Stability Under Jamil
Few clubs enter the Super Cup under greater pressure than Jamshedpur FC. After finishing second from bottom in the ISL last season, the Red Miners are in rebuild mode under Khalid Jamil, whose appointment was meant to bring Indian tactical pragmatism back to the club’s philosophy. However, inconsistency remains a concern. In recent outings, Jamshedpur have alternated between flashes of resilience and defensive vulnerability, conceding heavily in key moments. Their record of 47 goals conceded across competitions in 2024–25 underscores systemic issues.
For Jamil, the Super Cup is a referendum on both his methods and the club’s direction. A win over NorthEast United would be transformative not just for group qualification after their loss to Goa FC in first match but for rebuilding morale and asserting relevance amid growing competition from sides like Kashi and Odisha. Expect Jamil to prioritize compactness and counterattacks, using wingers like Imran Khan and Daniel Chima Chukwu to exploit transitions.
Inter Kashi FC: The Legally Vindicated Underdog
The story of Inter Kashi FC extends far beyond the field. Their participation comes after a landmark Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling in July 2025, which reinstated them as I-League champions following a contentious dispute over player registration. The verdict, which overturned the AIFF’s appeal committee decision, not only restored Kashi’s title but also highlighted systemic governance lapses within Indian football’s administration.
This backdrop of legal triumph and institutional adversity has instilled in the club a unique psychological steel. Under Spanish coach Antonio López Habas (once his visa clears), and buoyed by the confidence of standing toe-to-toe with ISL sides, Kashi represent a growing I-League ambition to break the traditional hierarchy. Their 2–2 draw with NorthEast, achieved without foreign players, has already forced analysts to recalibrate expectations. If their full squad becomes available tonight, they could push Goa far closer than anticipated.
Jamshedpur FC vs NorthEast United FC (16:30 IST)
This afternoon clash is a battle of contrasts Jamil’s cautious, reactive setup against Benali’s progressive, structured attacking system.
- Key duel: Miguel Zabaco vs Daniel Chima Chukwu
- Tactical lens: JFC’s compact block must absorb NEUFC’s wing-driven offense while preventing Ajaraie from isolating defenders one-on-one.
- Prediction: NorthEast’s cohesion gives them a slight edge, but history suggests this could end in a low-scoring draw (1–1 or 0–1).
FC Goa vs Inter Kashi FC (19:30 IST)
The evening headline fixture is a symbolic clash between structure and spirit a proven ISL powerhouse against a fearless I-League champion.
- Key duel: Brandon Fernandes vs Karthik Panicker
- Tactical lens: Goa will dominate possession and press high, seeking early breakthroughs; Kashi will rely on organized defending and quick counters.
- Wildcard: If coach Habas and foreign reinforcements are cleared, Kashi’s tactical flexibility improves significantly.
- Prediction: Goa remain favorites to win 2–1, but Kashi’s momentum makes a draw plausible especially if they sustain defensive discipline into the final quarter.
The Super Cup’s abrupt repositioning underscores deeper structural fragility within Indian football’s top tier. The ISL’s indefinite delay, the AIFF’s governance inconsistencies, and recent CAS reversals have all converged to make this tournament more than just a competition it’s a test of the system’s resilience. Yet, on the field, the tournament has delivered compelling narratives. FC Goa’s consistency, NorthEast’s resurgence, Jamshedpur’s attempt at rebirth, and Inter Kashi’s defiant emergence combine to create one of the most unpredictable groups in recent Super Cup history.
Whoever wins Group B not only advances to the semifinals but also takes a major step toward continental relevance. The stakes are higher than ever, the margins finer, and the football as Round 2 promises will be fiercely fought.
