Amid uncertainty, FC Goa turn focus on ACL Two playoff

Panaji: For now, nobody knows the fate of the Indian Super League (ISL), which has been officially kept on hold for the season. But despite the uncertainty over the country’s top-tier league, FC Goa have said they are committed to putting their “best foot forward” for the crucial AFC Champions League Two playoff clash next month.Goa won the Super Cup last season to qualify for continental competitions. Amid the uncertainty, the single-leg ACL Two preliminary clash against Al Seeb has come early in the season – August 13 to be precise – leaving the club with little time for preparation.Questions were asked whether Goa would give the competition a miss. However, CEO Ravi Puskur said the club recognises its responsibility to represent the country on the continental stage.“Withdrawing at this stage would not only invite significant sanctions but also leave a permanent stain on everything we’ve worked to build over the past decade,” Puskur told TOI on Sunday. “That is not a message we are willing to send, to our players, our fans, or to Indian football at large.”Puskur, though, acknowledged that the prevailing uncertainty has severely hampered the team’s preparations.“The lack of clarity around the domestic calendar and broader structural issues have made it extremely challenging to plan effectively.

This disruption is bound to have an impact. That said, we are committed to putting our best foot forward. We will do everything in our capacity to set aside the distractions and focus on delivering a performance that brings value and pride to Indian football at the Asian level,” said Puskur.Should Goa cross the preliminary hurdle against Oman champions Al Seeb, they will move to the group stage where Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr FC will be one of the participants.Goa have already completed their foreign quota for the season with all six players expected to arrive later this week to prepare for the playoff. The foreigners include Dejan Drazic, Borja Herrera, Iker Guarrotxena, Javier Siverio, David Timor and Pol Moreno.The ACL Two features the largest cast across the AFC’s club competitions and the 2025-26 edition will see 29 sides -- 14 from the West and 15 from the East -- granted entry to the Group Stage, with six more teams to occupy the indirect slots and do battle in the Preliminary Stage.The winner of each Preliminary Stage tie will progress to the Group Stage, while the losing side will have to settle for a spot in the third-tier AFC Challenge League.