Indian Super League
Football in India has existed in many forms since the game first arrived in the country during the 19th century with the first nationwide club competition, the Durand Cup, being founded in 1888. Despite India's early history in the game, the country's first nationwide football league did not begin until the semi-professional National Football League commenced in 1996. Prior to the creation of the National Football League, most clubs played in state leagues or select nationwide tournaments.
Federation Cup (India)
The Federation Cup, also known as Hero Federation Cup for sponsorship reasons, was an annual single round robin and knockout style club football tournament in India that started in 1977. From its inception, until I-League was started in 1997 (then called NFL), it was the most prestigious national level club football tournament in India. Until 2017, it was the most important club tournament after the I-League, to which it became a "de facto" League Cup. The winning club of the Federation Cup gained a chance to compete in the continental level in AFC Cup.