The Intercontinental Cup, organized by the All-India Football Federation (AIFF), is a prestigious four-nation football tournament. Introduced in 2018, it replaced the Nehru Cup, with its inaugural edition taking place as the 2018 Intercontinental Cup.
The Hero Intercontinental Cup, inaugurated in 2018, emerged as a platform to foster football excellence and cross-cultural exchange. Organized by the AIFF, the tournament aimed to elevate India’s stature in the international football landscape.
The AIFF organized the tournament to aid the India national team’s preparation for both the third round of 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification matches and the Asian Cup itself. Hero MotoCorp, a key sponsor of the national team, purchased the naming rights for the event. India emerged victorious in the inaugural edition held in 2018, while North Korea clinched the title in the subsequent 2019 edition.
Hero Intercontinental Cup Winners ListÂ
| Year | Host | Winner | Runner-up | 3rd Place | 4th Place |
| 2018 | Mumbai, India | India | Kenya | New Zealand | Chinese Taipei |
| 2019 | Ahmedabad, India | North Korea | Tajikistan | Syria | India |
| 2023 | Bhubaneswar, India | India | Lebanon | Vanuatu | Mongolia |
India – Winner of 2018 Intercontinental Cup
The 2018 Intercontinental Cup marked the tournament’s inaugural edition, hosted at Mumbai Football Arena in Mumbai, India, from June 1st to 10th. Organized by the AIFF, it served as a crucial preparation for the senior men’s team ahead of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.
India claimed victory in the final, defeating Kenya 2–0 on June 10th, with both goals coming from India’s captain, Sunil Chhetri in the first half. Originally, South Africa was slated to participate, but Kenya replaced them due to South Africa’s withdrawal. Chinese Taipei and New Zealand also joined the tournament, representing the AFC and OFC regions, respectively.
North Korea – Winnner of 2019 Intercontinental Cup
The 2019 Intercontinental Cup, the second edition of the tournament, took place at TransStadia Arena in Ahmedabad, India, from July 7th to 19th. In this edition, all participating teams hailed from the AFC. The tournament featured a round-robin format, with the top two teams advancing to the final.
North Korea emerged as the champions, securing a 1–0 victory over Tajikistan in the final match. The tournament witnessed a total of 26 goals in seven matches, with Sunil Chhetri claiming the top scorer title. India showed dominance in the inaugural edition of the competition in 2018, but faced challenges in 2019, culminating in a fourth-place finish in the group.Â
India – Winner of 2023 Intercontinental Cup
The 2023 Intercontinental Cup, the tournament’s third edition, unfolded at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, India, from June 9th to 18th. Teams from two different confederations, AFC and OFC, competed in this FIFA international window event. India, Lebanon, and Mongolia represented the AFC, while Vanuatu represented the OFC.
Following a round-robin phase, India emerged victorious, defeating Lebanon 2–0 in the final. Lallianzuala Chhangte and Sunil Chhetri, both from India, shared the top scorer honours with two goals each. India’s Sandesh Jhingan received the tournament’s best player award.
Most Goals in the Tournament’s HistoryÂ
| Rank | Player | Goals | Apps | Ratio |
| 1 | India Sunil Chhetri | 13 | 11 | 1.18 |
| 2 | North Korea Jong Il-gwan | 3 | 4 | 0.75 |
| 3 | North Korea Ri Hyong-jin | 3 | 4 | 0.75 |
| 4 | India Lallianzuala Chhangte | 3 | 7 | 0.42 |
| 5 | Syria Shadi Al Hamwi | 2 | 3 | 0.66 |
| 6 | Syria Mohammad Marmour | 2 | 3 | 0.66 |
| 7 | Syria Firas Al Khatib | 2 | 3 | 0.66 |
| 8 | Tajikistan Komron Tursunov | 2 | 4 | 0.5 |
| 9 | Kenya Jockins Atudo | 2 | 4 | 0.5 |
In the history of the Hero Intercontinental Cup, Sunil Chhetri of India stands out as the all-time leading goal scorer, with an impressive tally of 13 goals from 11 appearances, boasting a ratio of 1.18 goals per game as of the 2023 season.
Following closely behind are Jong Il-gwan and Ri Hyong-jin from North Korea, both with three goals each during the 2018 edition. Lallianzuala Chhangte, another Indian talent, has also made his mark with three goals across seven appearances, maintaining a ratio of 0.42.
In the history of the Hero Intercontinental Cup, Sunil Chhetri of India stands out as the all-time leading goal scorer, with an impressive tally of 13 goals from 11 appearances, boasting a remarkable ratio of 1.18 goals per game as of the 2023 season.
Following closely behind are Jong Il-gwan and Ri Hyong-jin from North Korea, both with three goals each during the 2018 edition. Lallianzuala Chhangte, another Indian talent, has also made his mark with three goals across seven appearances, maintaining a ratio of 0.42.
FAQs about Intercontinental Cup
Q) Who is the highest run-scorer in the Hero Intercontinental Cup?
A) In the history of the Hero Intercontinental Cup, Sunil Chhetri stands out as the all-time leading goal scorer, with 13 goals from 11 appearances, boasting a ratio of 1.18 goals per game
Q) Who won the 2018 Hero Intercontinental Cup?
A) India defeated Kenya 2–0 to win the 2018 edition of the cup, with both goals coming from India’s captain, Sunil Chhetri in the first half.
