Indian Football 2024–25: Durand Cup Kicks Off a Packed Season with ISL and Mohammedan Sporting’s ISL Debut
Apr, 27 2025
A Busy Start: Durand Cup Sets the Tone for Indian Football
The new Indian football season isn’t crawling in—it’s charging out of the gate. The 2024–25 schedule lights up with the historic Durand Cup on July 26, grabbing attention as one of Asia’s oldest football competitions. The tournament, staged by the Army and the AIFF, isn't just about showmanship or nostalgia. For players and clubs, it's a critical early chance to test new line-ups, size up fresh transfers, and feel out tactics before the meatier leagues get underway. It also offers fans an early fix after months without domestic action.
Right on the heels of the Durand Cup, September brings the country’s big-ticket league: the ISL (Indian Super League). Over the years, the ISL has grown into India’s prime football showcase, drawing packed stadiums, glitzy broadcasts, and even international stars. What has fans especially buzzing this year is Mohammedan Sporting Club's arrival. After clinching a dramatic promotion, the storied Kolkata side is set to ramp up derby fever. Their entry alongside city rivals Mohun Bagan Super Giant and East Bengal FC means the famous Kolkata rivalries just got even more intense—expect fireworks every time these teams meet.
October won’t see things cool off. The I-League starts up, giving clubs outside the ISL their shot to shine and prove their mettle in India’s football ecosystem. Running parallel will be the Indian Women's League (IWL), whose extended window from four to six months is a first, signaling AIFF’s bigger push for women's football. October also ushers in the Super Cup, a knockout-style contest that throws ISL and I-League clubs into the same ring and never fails to deliver upsets and drama.
Grassroots to Glory: Youth Focus, World Cup Dreams, and Expanded Rivalries
The structure isn’t just about blockbuster matches and packed stands. Starting in September, the AIFF Youth League will run nearly year-round for three different age groups. The idea here isn’t to create future superstars overnight but to fill India’s often patchy football pipeline with steady, long-term talent development. This move answers a call for proper, structured youth competition—a crucial step if Indian football wants its future generations to match up globally.
November and December bring the Santosh Trophy, India’s national championship pitting state teams against each other. The tournament may fly under the radar for the glitzy ISL crowd, but state pride runs deep here and emerging talents use this stage to launch their careers.
The men’s national team is gearing up for a big international agenda too. India will enter the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers in March and June 2025—a high-stakes ride that’s equally tense for the players and the fans desperate to see their team make a major global breakthrough. The pressure is on for the Blue Tigers to tighten up their squad, test rookies, and maybe finally deliver the punch needed to advance further than past campaigns.
As the weeks roll on, all eyes are on Kolkata’s football cauldron. With Mohammedan Sporting Club debuting in the ISL, the city promises to be Indian football’s epicenter. The old rivalry with Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, both in the highest tier, is now officially a three-way battle. For fans, this means more derbies, more bragging rights, and more noise in the stands. To say expectations are sky-high wouldn’t do it justice—this season is already shaping up to be anything but predictable.