Explained: Who qualifies for ACL2 Playoffs if Mohun Bagan lifts the Super Cup?
Explained: Who qualifies for ACL2 Playoffs if Mohun Bagan lifts the Super Cup?
FC Goa will secure a confirmed spot in the 2025–26 AFC Champions League 2 (ACL2) playoffs if Mohun Bagan Super Giant (MBSG) wins the 2025 Super Cup, a source from the All India Football Federation (AIFF) told Sportstar.
MBSG has already qualified for the group stage of the second-tier Asian continental competition by winning the Indian Super League (ISL) League Winners Shield in February. The second ACL2 spot is designated for the Super Cup winner.
According to the AIFF source, if MBSG also wins the Super Cup, the ACL2 playoff berth would normally go to the ISL Cup winner. However, MBSG clinched the ISL Cup as well, defeating Bengaluru FC 2-1 in the final earlier this month.
In this situation, the spot would pass to the team that finished second in the regular ISL season — not to the runner-up of the Super Cup or the ISL Cup. FC Goa finished second in the league phase, eight points behind MBSG after 24 matches, before losing to Bengaluru FC 2-3 on aggregate in the semifinals.
MBSG and FC Goa are scheduled to meet in the Super Cup semifinal on April 30, after wins over Kerala Blasters FC and Punjab FC, respectively, in the quarterfinals. This means even if FC Goa loses the semifinal, it can still qualify for the ACL2 playoffs if MBSG goes on to win the final.
FC Goa could also directly secure the continental spot by winning the Super Cup title in Bhubaneswar.
Published on Apr 27, 2025
