Founded 1977 Number of teams 8 (2016) | Region India Television broadcasters TEN 2 | |
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Current champions Mohun Bagan (14th title) Most successful club(s) Mohun Bagan (14 titles) | ||
The Federation Cup, also known as Hero Federation Cup for sponsorship reasons, is an annual knockout style club football tournament in India. It has started in 1977. From its inception till I-League has been started in 1997 (then called NFL), it was the most prestigious national level club football tournament in India. Presently it is the most important club tournament after the I-League, to which it has become a de facto League Cup. The winning club of the Federation Cup gets a chance to compete in the continental level in AFC Cup.
Contents
The current holders of the Federation Cup are Mohun Bagan who beat Aizawl F.C. 5–0 in the 2016 final held in Guwahati, Assam.
In April 2015, All India Football Federation announced that Federation Cup will be put "on hold" for "2-3 years" to avoid scheduling conflict with Indian Super League and I-League., but after Asian Football Confederation mandated that a club must play 18 matches in the season, AIFF decided to revive the tournament.
Venues
Matches during the Federation Cup were usually held at neutral venues around India. The Final is also held in a neutral venue.From 2015-16 season matches will be played as two legged (home and away)knockout format.Final will be in a neutral venue.
Past winners and runners-up
Teams reaching final
Overall top goalscorers
As of 10 January 2015(Note. * Includes 7 goals scored in Eastern Zone Qualifiers at Sibsagar - 1990 Federation Cup)