Bhubaneswar: The spotlight now turns to Bhubaneswar, where the fifth edition of the Kalinga Super Cup is all set to kick off here on Sunday with the final scheduled for May 3.
Total 16 teams including 13 teams from the ISL and three from the I-League, will battle it out in this winner-takes-all sprint with matches set to be played here. In the inaugural match on Sunday, Kerala Blasters FC will take on defending champions East Bengal FC and the stage is set for two weeks of high-octane action.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has hit rewind on the format. The 2025 edition goes old school with a straight knockout format, similar to what fans saw in the first two seasons. That means every match is do-or-die. Win and live to fight another day. Lose and it’s back to the drawing board.
The winner of the 2025 Kalinga Super Cup will secure a berth in the AFC Champions League 2 Playoffs which is a golden opportunity for Indian clubs to make their mark in Asia.
In the latest development, Mohun Bagan Super Giant got a bye into the Kalinga Super Cup 2025 quarterfinals after its round of 16 opponent Churchill Brothers withdrew from the tournament.
“Due to Churchill Brothers FC Goa’s withdrawal from Kalinga Super Cup 2025, their Round of 16 match against Mohun Bagan SG, scheduled for an 8 PM IST kick-off on April 20, will be awarded as a bye to the latter,” the All India Football Federation (AIFF) said in a statement on Friday.
