With Mohun Bagan Super Giant confirming their first-ever Winners’ Shield honour, the schedule for the playoffs was completed with them and Mumbai City confirming their spot in the semifinals directly. The sides finishing third to sixth will battle it out in single-leg knockout matches to determine the other two semi-finalists. The last four stages of the competition will be played in a home-and-away format over two legs. The winners will qualify for the ISL final to battle for the trophy on Saturday, 4 May 2024. The venue of the final will be decided soon.
The ISL 2023-24 playoffs will start on 19 April 2024 with fourth-place Odisha FC taking on Kerala Blasters, ended in fifth, in the first knockout match at the Kalinga Stadium. The winners of the tie will face Shield champions Mohun Bagan in the first semifinal with the first leg hosted at their home on April 23, 2024. The second leg will be played in the Salt Lake Stadium on 28th April 2024. Meanwhile, third-place FC Goa will take on Chennaiyin FC who acquired the final playoff spot on 20th April 2024 in Fatorda. Second-placed Mumbai City will face the winning team from the second knockout match in the second semi-final with the first leg on 24 April 2024 and the return leg at home on 29 April 2024.
Knockout 1: Odisha FC vs Kerala Blasters - Kalinga Stadium (Friday, 19 April 2024)
Both Odisha FC and Kerala Blasters were in the run for the League Shield but drifted drastically in the later half of the season. The Tuskers had the bigger fall finishing a massive 15 points off the top having led the table at one point in time. However, both teams remain in the running for silverware having made their place into the playoffs and will face each other for a spicy encounter in the first knockout match. Odisha FC will get the home advantage for finishing ahead of Kerala Blasters in the league table with Sergio Lobera eyeing a second ISL trophy. Whereas, Ivan Vukomanovic is aiming to take the Blasters to a fourth ISL final being the first coach to help the team qualify for a third consecutive playoff.
Knockout 2: FC Goa vs Chennaiyin FC - Fatorda Stadium, Goa (Saturday, 20 April 2024)
FC Goa were unbeaten in the first half of the season but failed to hold on to their heroics this year. All is not bad for Manolo Marquez’s men as they managed to turn their form around and settle for the third position on the league table. As a case, the Gaurs qualified for the SAFF Club Championship and will be battling the sixth-placed side in the playoff knockouts. Chennaiyin FC’s produced a miracle having turned around a poor start to the season to grab the final spot ahead of the touted playoffs favourites. Owen Coyle helped the Marina Machans to qualify for the playoffs having done so in 2020 in his first stint at the club. They will have to travel to Goa to battle for the semifinal place.
Semi-final 1 First Leg: Winner of knockout 1 vs Mohun Bagan (First Leg - 23 April 2024, Second Leg - 28 April 2024)
Mohun Bagan rejuvenated themselves in Antonio Lopez Habas’ return to the club by lifting the ISL Shield for the first time. By so, they made entry to the semifinals of the playoffs directly. The Green and Maroons are willing to defend their ISL trophy, hoping to become the second side to win the Shield and trophy in the same season. The Mariners will face the first knockout match winners between Odisha and Kerala Blasters in the last four with the first leg away. If Mohun Bagan makes it to the final, it will be their third appearance in the showpiece in four seasons.
Semi-final 2: Winner of knockout 2 vs Mumbai City (First Leg - 24 April 2024, Second Leg - 29 April 2024)
Though Mumbai City failed to defend their Shield by losing the decider against Mohun Bagan, they still have the ISL trophy to compete for. The Islanders have qualified for the SAFF Club championship after finishing second on the table and will wish to enter that competition with a prize in hand. Petr Kratky’s side will have the chance to face either 2019 Shield winners FC Goa or two-time ISL champions Chenniayin FC in the semi-final. The second leg will be at Mumbai Football Arena.
