All posts tagged: mumbai city fc

How a chaotic Kolkata Derby has left 4 contenders for the title

How a chaotic Kolkata Derby has left 4 contenders for the title

Published by Webster

4 min readMay 18, 2026 07:16 PM IST It took a long time for the 2025/26 season of the Indian Super League (ISL) to heave itself off the ground and while it’s feet continued to shiver under the weight of a bureaucratic mess, it somehow has provided a thriller of a title race that has gone down to the last day. A significant byproduct of this was a Kolkata derby that, for a change, actually mattered a lot at the top of the table, after which there are now four chief contenders for the ISL trophy: East Bengal, Mohun Bagan SG, Punjab FC and Mumbai City FC. With head-to-head record between teams being the first tie-breaker this season before goal-difference, a victory for either Bagan or East Bengal would’ve practically sealed the title for either side in the Kolkata Derby. It wasn’t to be. In front of a sold out crowd at the Salt Lake Stadium, the two sides went blow for blow for almost the entirety of the match. It all came to a …

Mohammedan SC becomes the first team to face relegation in ISL

Mohammedan SC becomes the first team to face relegation in ISL

Published by Webster

Mohammedan SC became the first team to face relegation in the Indian Super League after a 0-4 defeat to Mumbai City FC in their penultimate game of the season. The Black Panthers have had a forgettable season, managing just 3 points so far in 12 games and facing relegation after two seasons in the ISL. The Kolkata-based club failed to win a single match this season, registering just 3 draws and 9 defeats. They will face Northeast United in their final game of the season on 19th May. The Islanders set the tone immediately, winning a corner straight from the kick-off and capitalising. Zothanpuia delivered an inviting ball into the box, which was met by Sahil Panwar, who flicked it past goalkeeper Padam Chettri to open the scoring and register his first-ever Indian Super League goal. The Islanders doubled their lead in the 8th minute following a well-worked move which began with a long ball from defence. Vikram received the ball and played it to Zothanpuia, who combined with Jorge Ortiz for a smooth one-two …

Kolkata derby ends in chaotic 1-1 draw, ISL title to be decided on final day

Kolkata derby ends in chaotic 1-1 draw, ISL title to be decided on final day

Published by Webster

Mohun Bagan SG and East Bengal were locked 0-0 until the 85th minute. From there until the end of the match 13 minutes later, there was a goal for East Bengal (and a celebration like they had won the league) an equaliser for Bagan, Bipin Singh made a mess of a goalscoring chance for the umpteenth time, his goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Gill made an astonishing save with his left foot and East Bengal scorer Edmund Lalrindika received a red card. All in front of a Salt Lake Stadium packed to the rafters and feeling every second of the game. One would be forgiven for thinking that Indian football and the Indian Super League (ISL) was thriving if this match on Sunday was their introduction to this world. In the end, the score was 1-1, the best possible result for the neutrals, and fans of Mumbai City and Punjab FC, the two other frontrunners for the title. It means the league winners will now be confirmed only on the final day of the season on Thursday. For …

Biggest East Bengal-Mohun Bagan derby in years with both fighting for ISL title

Biggest East Bengal-Mohun Bagan derby in years with both fighting for ISL title

Published by Webster

4 min readMay 17, 2026 07:30 AM IST It has taken six years but at long last, the Kolkata derby could actually be the match that decides the Indian Super League (ISL) crown, as opposed to being just a marketing pitch for the competition. Going into Sunday’s fixture at the Salt Lake Stadium, Mohun Bagan Super Giant and East Bengal are level on 22 points, second and third on the table respectively, after playing 11 games with the red and gold brigade ahead on goal difference. Effectively, though, the two Kolkata giants have the strongest chance at winning the title – provided one of them wins on Sunday – with current league leaders Bengaluru FC having already finished their 13 matches with 23 points. That, and the fact that Mohun Bagan have drawn twice in their last two matches, are among the many by-products of the heavily truncated and truly bizarre season that this has been in the ISL. The first of those two draws, against FC Goa, came after an inexplicable break of 20 …

How Kolkata Derby could decide ISL 2025-26 title race?

How Kolkata Derby could decide ISL 2025-26 title race?

Published by Webster

The 2025-26 Indian Super League season is heading towards a dramatic finish. Usually, by the final week of the ISL season, the points table gives a fairly clear indication of who is likely to lift the title. But this season has been anything but predictable. With the league set to conclude on May 21, as many as seven teams, from current table toppers East Bengal FC to seventh-placed Mumbai City FC, remain mathematically in contention for the league title. The ISL follows a single-leg round-robin format this season, where all 14 teams play each other once. Unlike previous editions, there are no playoffs or knockout rounds this year, meaning the team finishing at the top of the table after 91 matches will be crowned champions. And because of that format, every remaining match suddenly feels like a final. Here’s a look at what each of the seven teams needs to do to win the ISL title: East Bengal Points: 22 from 11 matches | Goal Difference: +18 East Bengal FC currently sit at the top …

Kerala Blasters head coach, journalists asked to leave; club nearly lose their home just hours before ISL match vs Mumbai City

Kerala Blasters head coach, journalists asked to leave; club nearly lose their home just hours before ISL match vs Mumbai City

Published by Webster

3 min readUpdated: Feb 21, 2026 09:52 PM IST A fresh crisis was averted at the last minute in the Indian Super League (ISL), with the Kerala Blasters nearly losing the right to play at their designated home venue just 24 hours before their first home game of the season against Mumbai City FC, scheduled to be played at 7.30pm on Saturday. The Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA), owners of the Kaloor Stadium, officially known as the Jawaharlal Nehru International (JNI) Stadium, raised the rent that they had asked from the Blasters for using the venue as their home ground just two days before the fixture by Rs 2.2 lakh per match. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW VIDEO Additionally, the GCDA has also asked for a balance liability amount of just over Rs 22 lakh from the deposit that the Blasters had submitted last season, giving them a deadline of 4pm on Saturday to make the payments. A series of meetings took place over the course of the last two days leading up to the deadline. However, …

Mumbai City FC edge past Chennaiyin in its season opener

Mumbai City FC edge past Chennaiyin in its season opener

Published by Webster

Mumbai City FC began their Indian Super League 2025-26 season on a winning note, edging past Chennaiyin FC 1-0 in Match 7, which was played here at the Mumbai Football Arena. A tightly-contested encounter was decided by an own goal in the 48th minute by Pritam Kotal as the Islanders secured all three points in their season opener. Neither team could create much flow in the match as they cancelled each other out in midfield. Chances were a premium in the first half as the attackers found it difficult to break the opposition’s defence. Jorge Pereyra Díaz forced a fine save out of Mohammad Nawaz after he was played through by Jorge Ortiz. Minutes later, Brandon Fernandes, who looked in sublime form for the Islanders, found Lallianzuala Chhangte at the far post. The forward laid the ball on the path of Ortiz with a great touch, but the Spaniard’s effort only found the goalkeeper. Chennaiyin relied on long balls with Irfan Yadwad and new signing Iñigo Martín as the target men, but they were well …

FIFPro urges ISL clubs to ‘respect players’ contractual entitlements’ amid salary cuts | Football News

FIFPro urges ISL clubs to ‘respect players’ contractual entitlements’ amid salary cuts | Football News

Published by Webster

The International Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPro) on Saturday urged the Indian Super League (ISL) clubs to “to respect players’ contractual entitlements” amid multiple reports of players in the league having to accept pay cuts. The league is scheduled to start on February 14, five months later than the usual schedule, which has led to clubs incurring heavy losses. It has also resulted in most players going for months without pay and, in the days since the All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced the new start date for the league, multiple clubs have announced that players have agreed to take pay cuts for this season. “Many have been forced to rely on personal savings, take short-term contracts in state leagues, or seek alternative employment simply to support themselves and their families,” FIFPRO Asia/Oceania said in its official statement. “Despite these extraordinary challenges, players have continued to demonstrate Incredible professionalism. Alarmingly, FIFPRO Asia/Oceania has received recent reports that several clubs are pressuring contracted players into accepting salary reductions.” STATEMENT | @FIFPROAsiaOce calls on all Indian Super …

Manchester City owners’ exit from Mumbai City made ‘in light of ongoing uncertainty’ around future of ISL | Football News

Manchester City owners’ exit from Mumbai City made ‘in light of ongoing uncertainty’ around future of ISL | Football News

Published by Webster

The City Football Group (CFG), owners of England and European giants Manchester City and multiple other clubs around the world, confirmed via a joint statement with Mumbai City FC that it has parted ways with the latter due to the uncertainty around the future of the Indian Super League (ISL). Mumbai City had earlier informed the All India Football Federation (AIFF) of the CFG selling its 65 percent shares to the club’s parent company Mumbai City Football India Pvt Ltd, which is co-owned by Bollywood star Ranbir Kapoor and chartered accountant Bimal Parekh. “Mumbai City FC can confirm that City Football Group Limited has divested its shareholding in the club. The founding owners will assume full control of the organisation moving forward,” said the statement. “CFG has made this decision following a comprehensive commercial review and in light of the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the future of the Indian Super League (ISL). This step reflects CFG’s disciplined and strategic approach – ensuring its focus remains on areas where it can have the greatest long-term impact.” CFG …

Manchester City owners exit Mumbai City, but will more follow? | Football News

Manchester City owners exit Mumbai City, but will more follow? | Football News

Published by Webster

Six years ago, Mumbai City — a club with minuscule fanbase and playing in a modest ground in a over-crowded Western suburb — became the latest, and surprising, acquisition of the City Football Group (CFG). The owners of England and European giants Manchester City, CFG operate like a football MNC, with clubs in 13 countries across five continents. Mumbai, in November 2019, was their newest toy. Those were bullish times for Indian football. At the start of 2019, India came up with an impressive performance, by their standards, at the Asian Cup; snatched a point away from home against the mighty Qatar; the men’s national team was on the cusp of breaking into the world’s top 100; and the Indian Super League had controversially become the official top-division, reducing the I-League to a second-tier competition. The CFG entered the scene in this backdrop, promising to ‘deliver transformative benefits to Mumbai City and Indian football.’ So, as everything falls apart, there is no league as of now and the national team is in the doldrums, City …