The ISL Cup playoffs is the annual postseason elimination tournament of the Indian Super League (ISL). Unde the current format adopted for the 2022–23 season, six teams qualify based on their regular-season standings. The top two teams advance directly to the semi-finals, while the remaining four compete in single-leg eliminators. The winner of the final is awarded the ISL Cup. Until the 2021–22 Indian Super League season, the ISL Cup winners were awarded the ISL championship title.
From the 2022–23 Indian Super League season onward, the regular-season League Shield Winners are awarded the championship title in the Indian Super League.
History SeasonsLeague teamsPlayoff teams% of teamsMatches played20148450%5201520162017–20181040%2018–20192019–20202020–20211136.3%2021–20222022–2023654.5%72023–20241250%2024–20251346.1% Playoffs system The top two clubs after the regular season automatically progress to the ISL playoffs. The playoffs culminate with the ISL Final, where the winner is presented with the ISL Cup. In the qualifiers, the third-through-sixth ranked teams play a single-elimination match hosted at the higher-ranked team's venue, with the two winners joining the first and second-ranked teams in two-legged semifinals played over two weeks (since 2022–23). The two winners eventually met in the final hosted at a pre-decided venue, but from 2023–24 onwards, the final is played at the higher-ranked team's venue.
Qualification After the regular season, the team with the most points is declared the Champions and presented with the League Winners Shield, automatically qualifying for the playoffs along with the runners-up. At the same time, the next best four teams qualify to qualifying playoffs. The position of each team is determined by the highest number of points accumulated during the regular season. If two or more teams are level on points, the following criteria are applied in order until one of the teams can be determined as the higher ranked:
Highest number of points accumulated in matches between the teams concerned; Highest goal difference in matches between the teams concerned; Highest number of goals scored in matches between the teams concerned; Highest goal difference Highest number of goals scored Lowest number of red cards accumulated; Lowest number of yellow cards accumulated; Toss of a coin.
List of finals SeasonVenueCup Winners(Number of titles)ScoreRunners–up2014Navi Mumbai, MaharashtraAtlético de Kolkata1–0Kerala Blasters2015Margao, GoaChennaiyin3–2Goa2016Kochi, KeralaAtlético de Kolkata (2)1–1 (a.e.t)(4–3 p)Kerala Blasters2017–18Bangalore, KarnatakaChennaiyin (2)3–2Bengaluru2018–19Mumbai, MaharashtraBengaluru1–0Goa2019–20Margao, GoaATK (3)3–1Chennaiyin2020–21Margao, GoaMumbai City2–1Mohun Bagan2021–22Margao, GoaHyderabad1–1 (a.e.t)(3–1 p)Kerala Blasters2022–23Margao, GoaMohun Bagan2–2 (a.e.t)(4–3 p)Bengaluru2023–24Kolkata, West BengalMumbai City (2)3–1Mohun Bagan2024–25Kolkata, West BengalMohun Bagan (2)2–1 (a.e.t)Bengaluru
Appearances by club Bold indicates they won the ISL Cup that year. Team names in italics indicates the club is defunct or a former Indian Super League member. Rank Club Year 1 Goa 8 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2024, 2025 2 Chennaiyin 5 2014, 2015, 2018, 2020, 2024Kerala Blasters 2014, 2016, 2022, 2023, 2024 Mumbai City 2016, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025 5 ATK 4 2014, 2015, 2016, 2020 Mohun Bagan 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 Odisha 2015, 2016, 2023, 2024 Bengaluru 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023, 2025 9 Hyderabad 2 2022, 2023 NorthEast United 2019, 2021, 2025 11 Jamshedpur 1 2022, 2025 Pune City 2018
See also AFC Champions League Two
Notes and references Notes
References
External links WorldFootball