The AIFF Super Cup 2025–26 has already produced its first dominant storyline FC Goa have sealed their place in the semifinals with a game to spare.
After two clinical wins in Group B, the Goan side stand unchallenged atop the table with six points and a perfect goal record of 5-0, leaving NorthEast United FC, Jamshedpur FC, and Inter Kashi FC to battle only for pride on the final matchday. The ninth edition of the Super Cup brings together the top clubs from the Indian Super League (ISL) and the I-League in a compact, knockout-style group phase.
With only the group winners advancing to the semifinals, every game carries elimination-level pressure. The overall winner earns a coveted AFC Champions League Two playoff spot a continental doorway that adds a sharp edge to every fixture. For 2025-26, the tournament has been centralized in Goa, split between the PJN Stadium (Fatorda) and the GMC Athletic Stadium (Bambolim). The move has streamlined logistics and doubled as a pre-season stress test for the ISL teams ahead of their league campaigns.
Group B featuring FC Goa, NorthEast United, Jamshedpur, and I-League champions Inter Kashi was billed as the “Group of Death.” Yet within two matchdays, it became clear who the apex predator was.
Matchday 1: Early Statement and Surprises
FC Goa set the tone on October 26, defeating Jamshedpur FC 2-0 in a professional display that showcased the seamless control typical of Manolo Marquez’s coaching. Playing in their home state gave the Gaurs both rhythm and confidence and the combination of Dejan Dražić and Borja Herrera in midfield ensured domination from start to finish.
The same evening, NorthEast United FC were held 2-2 by an under-strength Inter Kashi FC side. Kashi, managed temporarily by Abhijit Mondal with an all-Indian squad due to visa delays for foreign staff and players, stunned observers by striking first through Harmanpreet Singh. Though NorthEast rallied to lead 2-1, defensive complacency cost them late as they conceded a 74th-minute equalizer. That slip would come back to haunt them.
Matchday 2: Goa Seal Qualification Early
The second round, played October 29, settled Group B even before the final whistle of the day.
In the early kickoff at Bambolim, Jamshedpur FC and NorthEast United produced a thrilling but frustrating 2-2 draw. NEUFC raced to a 2-0 lead through Chema Núñez and Alaaeddine Ajaraie, only to surrender it in the closing minutes as Raphael Messi Bouli equalized for JFC. Two games, two leads lost for Benali’s Highlanders, the pattern was now clear: attacking promise undone by defensive lapses.
Later that night, FC Goa obliterated Inter Kashi 3-0, sealing their semifinal place with a game to spare. Dražić (3’) opened the scoring before Borja Herrera’s quickfire brace (38’, 42’) buried the contest by halftime. Goa’s precision, pace, and control emphasized the gulf between ISL elite and I-League newcomers, while confirming Marquez’s men as the benchmark for tactical efficiency.
Matchday 3 Outlook (November 1): Tactical Tests, Not Qualification Battles
With the semifinal slot decided, the final round Inter Kashi vs Jamshedpur FC (Bambolim, 16:30) and FC Goa vs NorthEast United FC (Fatorda, 19:30) serves different purposes for each team.
Inter Kashi vs Jamshedpur FC: The Fight for Credibility
For Jamshedpur FC, coached by Steven Dias, the fixture is a test of system and spirit. A team with ambitions of top-half ISL contention cannot afford to leave a tournament winless. The focus will be on rediscovering scoring rhythm through Messi Bouli and Talal Al Balushi, and shoring up a defense that has conceded in every game so far. Anything short of a commanding win will amplify doubts about Dias’s tactical integration.
For Inter Kashi, this match is more than a formality it’s an opportunity to prove parity with ISL competition. A positive result against Jamshedpur would validate their domestic depth and justify their I-League title credentials. Now expected to have at least some of their foreign contingent available, Kashi’s priority will be defensive organization and disciplined counter-attacks. Even a draw would provide momentum heading into their I-League campaign.
FC Goa vs NorthEast United FC: Rotation vs Redemption
For FC Goa, the mission has shifted from qualification to preservation. With a semifinal looming, Marquez is expected to rest core players Herrera, Dražić, and Brandon Fernandes while offering valuable minutes to young domestic prospects such as Prachit Gaonkar. The match functions as a live-pressure development lab: how effectively can Goa’s bench maintain the team’s tactical DNA without its European spine?
For NorthEast United, the stakes are psychological. Consecutive blown leads have dented confidence after a triumphant Durand Cup campaign. Coach Juan Pedro Benali knows his side needs a morale-restoring win before the ISL. Facing a rotated Goa side gives the Highlanders their best shot but another poor result would reinforce fears that the team’s defensive fragility remains unresolved.
The historical balance between the two clubs (13 draws in 23 meetings) suggests a tight affair, but with Goa’s rotation and NEUFC’s desperation, the Highlanders may finally have a window to strike.
What We’ve Learned from Group B
1. FC Goa’s Commanding Benchmark
Goa’s five goals scored and none conceded underline a rare pre-season readiness. The team’s structure is settled, foreign recruits are integrated, and Marquez has rotated intelligently. Their home advantage in Goa’s familiar climate and conditions has been maximized perfectly. Among all Super Cup teams, Goa look the most balanced and operationally efficient.
2. The ISL Mid-Tier Consistency Problem
Both Jamshedpur and NorthEast United exposed the same flaw inability to manage leads. Across their two draws, NEUFC surrendered four points from winning positions. For JFC, slow transitions and lapses in concentration persist. Tactical stability and mental fortitude are priorities before their league seasons begin.
3. Inter Kashi’s Encouraging Reality Check
Despite a depleted lineup, Inter Kashi’s draw with NorthEast United proved that top I-League sides can compete with mid-tier ISL clubs. Their biggest obstacle wasn’t quality but logistics visa delays that sidelined coach Antonio López Habas and all foreign players. A full-strength roster would make them a legitimate Super Cup threat in future editions.
Strategic Takeaways
•For FC Goa: Use Matchday 3 as controlled rotation; protect key players.
•For NorthEast United: Treat the match as a morale mission win at all costs.
•For Jamshedpur FC: Demand a statement victory to rebuild belief.
•For Inter Kashi: Focus on structure and experience, not just the scoreline.
Group B of the AIFF Super Cup 2025–26 has reinforced the hierarchies of Indian football FC Goa’s polished dominance, the inconsistency haunting ISL’s mid-pack, and the ambition of an I-League champion ready to disrupt. As the tournament heads toward its knockout phase, Goa look poised for another deep run, while the others must transform these lessons into momentum for their domestic campaigns.
