East Bengal win Maiden ISL title, clinch First Top Flight Title in 22 Years

East Bengal have clinched their maiden Indian Super League title on Thursday (May 21) as they beat Inter Kashi 2-1 in the final match of the ISL 2025-26 season.

The Red and Gold brigade ended their wait for a top-flight title, as Oscar Bruzon's men secured the crown on a pulsating evening at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata.

East Bengal win ISL Title - As It Happened

They topped the table on goal difference ahead of arch-rivals Mohun Bagan Super Giant, sparking wild celebrations across Kolkata and beyond.

The match was a rollercoaster. Inter Kashi took an early lead, but East Bengal showed true champion spirit. A second-half equalizer from Youssef Ezzejjari ignited hope, before a late winner from Rashid sent the stadium into delirium. With Mohun Bagan only managing a 2-1 win against SC Delhi, East Bengal's superior goal difference sealed the deal. This victory marks their first national league title since the 2003-04 National Football League triumph.

For a club steeped in rich history, this ISL crown feels extra special. It completes a memorable double after the women's IWL success and earns them a spot in the AFC Champions League Two. Fans who waited decades danced in the streets, waving red-and-gold flags under the Kolkata lights.

From the stands packed with "EB" chants to the players' emotional laps of honour, this is more than silverware-it's redemption. East Bengal have arrived at the pinnacle of Indian football. The wait is over. Champions at last!

The emotional outpour reached a level as fans entered the stadium and security personnel had to be deployed to clear them. This is East Bengal's first ISL title, as they are now the second Kolkata team to win the top flight crown after their arch-rivals Mohun Bagan.