The Federation Cup is a knockout football competition in men's domestic Indian football league system. Established in 1977, it is organized by the All India Football Federation (AIFF). The Federation Cup was temporarily replaced by the Super Cup from 2017–18.

History

In 1977, the All India Football Federation started the Federation Cup as the first club based national tournament in the country. Inaugural champion of the competition was the ITI (Indian Telephone Industries) who defeated Mohun Bagan in the final. In 2015, the All India Football Federation announced that the Federation Cup will be put on hold to avoid scheduling conflict with the Indian Super League and the I-League. After the Asian Football Confederation mandated that a club must play at least 18 matches in the season, the AIFF decided to revive the tournament under new format. On 19 February 2018, the AIFF fully abolished the competition and formed the Super Cup as a replacement. In July 2023, the AIFF has decided again to revive the competition, but later it was postponed. On 2 March 2026, the AIFF released an RFP for commercial rights which included the Federation Cup, indicating a possible revival of the competition.

Venues

Matches during the Federation Cup are usually held at neutral venues. From 2015, matches were played as two legged knockout format.

Results

Federation Cup finals

YearWinnersRunners-upScore
1977–78Indian Telephone IndustriesMohun Bagan1–0
1978–79Mohun Bagan and East Bengal–0–0
1979–80BSFMafatlal Mills2–2, 3–0
1980–81Mohun Bagan (2) and East Bengal (2)–1–1
1981–82Mohun Bagan (3)Mohammedan2–0
1982–83Mohun Bagan (4)Mafatlal Mills1–0
1983–84MohammedanMohun Bagan0–0, 2–0
1984–85Mohammedan (2)East Bengal1–0
1985East Bengal (3)Mohun Bagan1–0
1986–87Mohun Bagan (5)East Bengal0–0 (a.e.t.) (5–4 p)
1987–88Mohun Bagan (6)Salgaocar2–0
1988–89SalgaocarBSF1–0
1989–90Salgaocar (2)Mohammedan Sporting2–1 (a.e.t.)
1990Kerala PoliceSalgaocar2–1
1991Kerala Police (2)Mahindra & Mahindra2–0 (a.e.t.)
1992Mohun Bagan (7)East Bengal2–0
1993Mohun Bagan (8)Mahindra & Mahindra1–0
1994Mohun Bagan (9)Salgaocar0–0 (a.e.t.) (3–0 p)
1995JCT MillsEast Bengal1–1 (a.e.t.) (7–6 p)
1995–96JCT Mills (2)East Bengal1–1 (a.e.t.) (5–3 p)
1996East Bengal (4)Dempo2–1
1997Salgaocar (3)East Bengal2–1
1998Mohun Bagan (10)East Bengal2–1
1999Not held
2000
2001Mohun Bagan (11)Dempo2–1
2002Not held
2003Mahindra UnitedMohammedan Sporting1–0
2004DempoMohun Bagan2–0
2005Mahindra United (2)Sporting Goa2–1
2006Mohun Bagan (12)Sporting Goa3–1
2007East Bengal (5)Mahindra United2–1
2008Mohun Bagan (13)Dempo1–0
2009–10East Bengal (6)Shillong Lajong0–0 (a.e.t.) (3–0 p)
2010East Bengal (7)Mohun Bagan1–0
2011Salgaocar (4)East Bengal3–1
2012East Bengal (8)Dempo3–2 (a.e.t.)
2013–14Churchill BrothersSporting Goa3–1
2014–15BengaluruDempo2–1
2015–16Mohun Bagan (14)Aizawl5–0
2016–17Bengaluru (2)Mohun Bagan2–0 (a.e.t.)
since 2017Replaced by Super Cup
  • a.e.t.: After extra time
  • pen.: Score in penalty shootout

Finalists

ClubFinal appearancesWinnerWinning yearsRunners-upRunners-up years
Mohun Bagan20141978*, 1980*, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1987, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1998, 2001, 2006, 2008, 2015–1661977, 1983, 1985, 2004, 2010, 2016–17
East Bengal1681978*, 1980*, 1985, 1996, 2007, 2009-10, 2010, 201281984, 1986, 1992, 1995, 1996–97, 1997, 1998, 2011
Salgaocar741988, 1989, 1997, 201131987, 1990, 1994
Dempo61200451996#, 2001, 2008, 2012, 2014–15
Mohammedan521983, 198431981, 1989, 2003
Mahindra United522003, 200531991, 1993, 2007
Sporting Goa30-32005, 2006, 2013–14
Bengaluru222014–15, 2016–170-
JCT Mills221995, 1995-960-
Kerala Police221990, 19910-
Border Security Force21197911988
Indian Telephone Industries1119770-
Churchill Brothers112013–140-
Shillong Lajong10-12009
Aizawl10-12015–16
  • *: Shared
  • #: There were two federation cups in 1996

Super Cup finals

SeasonWinnersScoreRunners-upVenueTop scorer
2018Bengaluru4–1East BengalKalinga Stadium, BhubaneswarIndia Sunil Chhetri (6)
2019Goa2–1ChennaiyinSpain Coro (5)
2020–2022Suspended due to the COVID-19 and India's international fixtures
2023Odisha2–1BengaluruEMS Stadium, KozhikodeColombia Wilmar Jordán (7)
2024East Bengal3–2OdishaKalinga Stadium, BhubaneswarBrazil Cleiton Silva (5)
2025Goa3–0JamshedpurSpain Iker Guarrotxena (4) Spain Borja Herrera (4)
2025–260–0 (6–5 p)East BengalFatorda Stadium, FatordaSpain Koldo Obieta (3)

Top goalscorers

As of 10 January 2015

RankPlayerGoals
1Brazil Jose Ramirez Barreto27
2Nigeria Chima Okorie26*
3India Bhaichung Bhutia25
4Nigeria Chidi Edeh23
5Nigeria Ranti Martins18
6India I. M. Vijayan17
Nigeria Odafa Onyeka Okolie

(*: Includes 7 goals scored in Eastern Zone qualifiers at Sibsagar – 1990 Federation Cup)

See also

External links

  • (archived)