Mohun Bagan, the first all-Indian side to lift the IFA Shield.
During the initial years of the competition, the IFA Shield was dominated by British Army teams and the Royal Irish Rifles defeated W.D.R.A. to lift the first IFA Shield in 1893. However, their stranglehold over the Shield was broken in 1911,[5] when Mohun Bagan became the first all-Indian side to win the IFA Shield by defeating East Yorkshire Regiment by 2–1.[6][7][8] That was a historic moment for Indian football as well the struggle for independence, as the natives beat the Englishmen in their own game. While the Royal Irish Rifles remains the most successful British Army side with 5 titles, East Bengal Club has won the IFA Shield a record 29 times.
The 1949 IFA Shield won by East Bengal, the most successful club in the tournament's history.
From 2015 to 2018, the IFA Shield was designed as an youth tournament wherein youth teams of all divisions were allowed to participate.[9] The decision was taken by IFA due to busy schedule of AIFF which includes Indian Super League, I-League, I-League 2, State leagues and Super Cup among others. In 2020, the tournament was once again organised as a senior event.[10]
3. ^ An all-Indian side won the Shield for the first time.
4. ^ The final was abandoned due to a dispute between the finalists over extra time.[18]
5. ^ A scheduled fourth match was scratched and Indian Culture League were awarded the Shield as East Bengal played with an unregistered player in the third match.[19]
6. ^ The replay was abandoned due to torrential rain, but Mohun Bagan objected to a third match and refused to play: the third match was scratched and East Bengal were awarded the Shield.[20]
7. ^ The final was abandoned at half-time after Mohammedan Sporting refused to continue, and East Bengal were awarded the Shield.[21]
8. ^ The final was abandoned after 35 minutes after Palmeiras started a violent brawl, with Palmeiras fans also throwing chairs onto the pitch: East Bengal were awarded the Shield, and the IFA ordered that Palmeiras' results be deleted from the records.[22][19]
Though the tournament was dominated by the British Army teams during its initial years, yet British Indian teams too participated representing India prior to the independence, but very few were an all-Indian side. Mohun Bagan AC the first all-Indian side to win the tournament in 1911.
