The earliest football club established in India was Calcutta FC, founded in 1872 in Calcutta during British rule. However, the club is no longer active. The title of the oldest existing football club in India belongs to Mohun Bagan Super Giant, founded in 1889. Established as Mohun Bagan Athletic Club, it became a landmark institution in Indian sporting history and played a defining role in shaping competitive football culture. Its historic 1911 IFA Shield victory marked a turning point in Indian football. Today, under the governance framework of the All India Football Federation, Mohun Bagan continues to compete at the highest level, preserving over a century of footballing legacy.
History of Football in India
Football was introduced to India in the mid-19th century by British soldiers and civilians, with Calcutta emerging as the earliest centre of organised play. Early matches were dominated by British regimental teams before Indians began participating competitively. In 1872, Calcutta FC was established, widely regarded as the first football club in India and the formal starting point of organised club football in the country. Nagendra Prasad Sarbadhakari, often called the Father of Indian Football, played a crucial role in popularising the sport among Indian students and expanding its local reach.
As the sport grew in Bengal, structured administration followed. The Indian Football Association was formed in 1893 and began organising major competitions such as the IFA Shield, one of the oldest surviving football tournaments in the world. In 1937, the All India Football Federation was established to unify regional bodies and govern football nationally, laying the foundation for modern Indian football administration.
Read More: Top 10 Football Clubs in India (2026)
The Oldest Football Club: Calcutta FC
Calcutta FC holds the distinguished honour of being the oldest football club in India, established in 1872 in what was then the capital of British India. This makes it not just India’s first football club but also the oldest in Asia.
Founded at the height of British colonial rule, Calcutta FC began as a rugby club before transitioning to association football in 1894. The club played a pivotal role in introducing organised football to the Indian subcontinent, laying the foundation for what would become a deep-rooted football culture.
Though Calcutta FC no longer exists in its formal capacity as of 2026, its legacy inspired countless clubs that followed. The pioneering spirit of Calcutta FC established Kolkata as the nation’s football hub, a status it maintains to this day.
Mohun Bagan: The Oldest Active Football Club in India
While Calcutta FC was the first football club established in India in 1872, it is no longer active. The distinction of the oldest existing and continuously active football club in India belongs to Mohun Bagan Super Giant, founded on 15 August 1889 as Mohun Bagan Athletic Club. For more than 135 years, the club has remained central to Indian football’s competitive and cultural landscape.
Foundation and Early Growth
Mohun Bagan was formed during British colonial rule, when football in India was largely dominated by British regimental teams. Indian participation in organised competitions was limited, but the club quickly emerged as a symbol of Indian sporting assertion. Early administrators, including Bhupendra Nath Bose, played a key role in shaping its structure and competitive ambitions. By the turn of the 20th century, Mohun Bagan had already established itself as one of Bengal’s strongest football institutions.
The Historic 1911 IFA Shield Victory
Mohun Bagan’s place in history was cemented in 1911 when it defeated the East Yorkshire Regiment 2–1 to win the IFA Shield. It became the first Indian team to win the prestigious tournament, which had previously been dominated by British sides. Most of the Mohun Bagan players competed barefoot against booted British soldiers, making the achievement even more remarkable.
The football team came to be known as the “Immortal Eleven,” and the victory transcended sport. It became a powerful symbol of national pride during India’s freedom movement and remains one of the most iconic moments in Indian sporting history.
Evolution in the Professional Era
In 2020, Mohun Bagan merged with ATK and began competing in the Indian Super League as Mohun Bagan Super Giant. The club continues to operate under the governance framework of the All India Football Federation. It plays its major home fixtures at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata, one of India’s largest football stadiums.
Major Achievements
Over more than 135 years, Mohun Bagan Super Giant has built one of the most decorated records in Indian football history. Its major honours include:
- 5 National League titles
(3 National Football League titles and 2 I-League titles) - 1 Indian Super League (ISL) Championship title
(2022–23 season) - 1 ISL League Winners’ Shield
(2023–24 season) - 17 Durand Cup titles
The highest by any club in the competition’s history - 14 Federation Cup titles
Joint record in Indian football - 22 IFA Shield titles
One of the most successful clubs in the tournament’s history
This sustained success across colonial-era tournaments, post-independence competitions, and the modern professional league system firmly establishes Mohun Bagan as one of Asia’s oldest and most consistently successful football institutions.
Enduring Legacy
More than a century after its founding, Mohun Bagan remains more than just a football club. It represents continuity, identity, and competitive excellence in Indian football. From colonial-era resistance to modern professional leagues, its journey reflects the broader evolution of the sport in India.
Top 10 Oldest Football Clubs in India
The clubs listed below represent the earliest formally recorded football institutions in India, with founding years supported by documented historical records. They played a foundational role in establishing organised club football during colonial rule and shaping India’s early competitive structure.
| Rank | Club Name | Founded | City | Status |
| 1 | Calcutta FC | 1872 | Kolkata | Inactive |
| 2 | Dalhousie Athletic Club | 1878 | Kolkata | Active (multi-sport) |
| 3 | Aryan Club | 1884 | Kolkata | Active |
| 4 | Sovabazar Club | 1887 | Kolkata | Active |
| 5 | Mohun Bagan Super Giant | 1889 | Kolkata | Active |
| 6 | Mohammedan Sporting Club | 1891 | Kolkata | Active |
| 7 | East Bengal FC | 1920 | Kolkata | Active |
| 8 | Salgaocar FC | 1956 | Goa | Inactive (professional operations suspended) |
| 9 | Dempo SC | 1967 | Goa | Active |
| 10 | JCT FC | 1971 | Punjab | Inactive (dissolved 2011) |
Evolution to Modern Football Leagues
Indian club football evolved from colonial-era knockout tournaments such as the Durand Cup, founded in 1888, into structured national leagues in the professional era. The National Football League began in 1996 and was rebranded as the I-League in 2007. In 2014, the Indian Super League was launched, introducing a franchise-based model and greater commercial investment. Historic institutions such as Mohun Bagan Super Giant and East Bengal FC now compete in the ISL alongside modern clubs like Mumbai City FC, which was founded in 2014 and has won multiple ISL titles.
Several legacy clubs left the top tier of football despite strong records. Salgaocar FC, founded in 1956, won the I-League in 2010–11 before withdrawing from professional competition. JCT FC, established in 1971, won the National Football League in 1996–97 but dissolved in 2011. Modern professionally run clubs such as Bengaluru FC, founded in 2013, reached the AFC Cup final in 2016, signalling improved continental competitiveness.
Fan Culture and Football Rivalries in India
India’s historic clubs carry significant cultural identity beyond sport. Kolkata’s traditional “Big Three”, Mohun Bagan, East Bengal FC, and Mohammedan Sporting Club, shaped early competitive football and built enduring regional loyalties. Major matches are hosted at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata, one of India’s largest football stadiums.
Outside Kolkata, clubs such as Kerala Blasters FC and Bengaluru FC have developed strong supporter cultures. Organised fan groups, including West Block Blues, contribute to structured supporter engagement. Many professional clubs now operate youth academies aligned with the development framework of the All India Football Federation, strengthening grassroots pathways.
Challenges Facing Indian Football Clubs Today
Financial instability has led to the collapse or withdrawal of several clubs, including Pune FC and Mumbai FC, highlighting sustainability challenges in Indian football’s professional structure. However, ISL expansion, improved broadcast revenues, licensing requirements, and AIFF reform initiatives have strengthened regulatory oversight.
Long-standing institutions such as Mohun Bagan demonstrate that competitive continuity depends on administrative stability, fan engagement, and adaptation to evolving league systems. As India aims for stronger AFC performances and broader youth development, the structural evolution from colonial tournaments to modern professional leagues remains central to the country’s football trajectory.
Conclusion
The story of the oldest football club in India reflects the broader evolution of Indian football itself. From Calcutta FC’s establishment in 1872 to Mohun Bagan’s enduring legacy since 1889, these institutions laid the foundation for organised competition in the country. Their journeys span colonial tournaments, national leagues, and the modern Indian Super League era. Together, they represent historical continuity, competitive excellence, and cultural identity, shaping Indian football’s past while influencing its future direction and growth.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The oldest football club in the world is Sheffield F.C., founded in 1857 in England. It is officially recognised by FIFA as the world’s oldest football club.
The first football club established in India was Calcutta FC, founded in 1872 in Calcutta (now Kolkata). However, the club is no longer active. The oldest existing and continuously active football club in India is Mohun Bagan Super Giant, founded in 1889.
Modern association football originated in England, where the Football Association was formed in 1863 and standardised the rules of the game.
The “GOAT” debate is subjective, but Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are most commonly regarded as the greatest players of the modern era.
Nagendra Prasad Sarbadhakari is widely known as the Father of Indian Football for promoting the sport among Indians in the 19th century.
