Football in West Bengal
| Football in West Bengal | |
|---|---|
Indian crowd during the match between FC Bayern Munich and Mohun Bagan, May 27, 2008 | |
| Governing body | Indian Football Association (IFA) (formed in 1893) |
Audience records | |
| Single match | 131,781 (1997 Federation Cup Semifinal: East Bengal F.C. VS Mohun Bagan A.C. at Salt Lake Stadium, 1997) |
_Kolkata_India_-_FC_Bayern_Munich_Mohun_Bagan_Oliver_Kahn_1.jpg){kind=link}
Association football is two most-popular sports in West Bengal, the others being Cricket. East Bengal, Mohun Bagan and Mohammedan are the heart of West Bengal football. The rivalry between Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, originating from the Calcutta Football League as the Kolkata derby, is one of the fiercest in the world and considered among the flagship events in the Indian footballing calendar. West Bengal is known to be the Mecca of Indian football, with the two most supported teams in the country being based within the city – Mohun Bagan and East Bengal.
The IFA had organised many historical tournaments like the Trades Cup, the Gladstone Cup, the Cooch Behar Cup and the coveted IFA Shield, prior to the incorporation of Calcutta Football League in 1898. The Trades Cup is the oldest tournament in Kolkata, being instituted in 1889.