Bhubaneswar (Odisha): The Super Cup 2025, the annual premier football cup competition in India, will be played in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, from April 21, the All India Football Federation announced on Wednesday.
The 16-team premier club competition will be played in a knock-out format, different from the previous years when it was played in a group stage followed by the knockouts. All 13 Indian Super League (ISL) clubs and three I-League clubs will participate in the fifth edition of the tournament.
The winner previously secured a spot in the AFC (Asian Football Confederation) Cup, but now, will earn the chance to compete in the 2025-26 AFC Champions League 2 (ACL2) Playoffs, providing an opportunity for Indian clubs to make their mark on the continental stage.
The Super Cup succeeded the Federation Cup in 2018, and three of its last four editions have taken place in Bhubaneswar. Bengaluru FC won the inaugural edition in 2018, followed by FC Goa the very next year. Odisha FC won the tournament after a three-year hiatus in 2023.
In the 2024 edition of the tournament, known as the Kalinga Super Cup, East Bengal ended 12 years of hurt, as they won their first silverware in as many years, defeating Odisha FC 3-2 after extra time at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar.
With the 2024-25 ISL season set to end with only two game weeks left, the Super Cup will be played after the playoffs in India’s premier domestic competition.
There was a lot of criticism towards the organisers for the delay in the announcement of whether the tournament will take place or not. India and FC Goa head coach, Manolo Marquez, believed the country must improve in this aspect.
“This is the one aspect that India must improve. We need to know the schedule, the calendar, and the fixtures so that you can plan how to train, when to provide rest, and when you can push the players (to train more). It’s important to know because of the physical aspect and health of players,” said Manolo.
IANS
1st Test: Phenomenal Bumrah is best in the world, can change the game: Mark Wood
Leeds: England fast bowler Mark Wood believes Jasprit Bumrah is the best bowler in the world right now and will certainly prove to be a challenge for the English batters...
1st Test: Gill, Jaiswal tons, Pant’s fifty headline India’s utterly dominant day
Leeds: Under the sunny and cloudy skies at Headingley, two young batters of India’s new Test era dazzled with brilliant strokes to hit a century each and totally dominate England...
Messi’s free-kick lifts Inter Miami over Porto in Club World Cup
Atlanta: Lionel Messi struck a stunning free kick to seal a 2-1 comeback victory for Inter Miami over Porto in their FIFA Club World Cup Group A clash on Friday...
Heartwarming to know that we have kept the Pataudi legacy alive, says Sachin Tendulkar
New Delhi: Legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar said it was a heartwarming moment for him to ensure that the Pataudi family’s legacy will continue to be a part of the India-England...
Toss-up between Nitish & Shardul will come down to current bowling form: Bharat Arun
New Delhi: The key selection question for India ahead of their Test series opener against England at Leeds is who between Shardul Thakur or Nitish Kumar Reddy will be the...
If Bumrah plays four Tests, he can do what Rabada, Cummins did at Lord’s, says Harmison
New Delhi: As Shubman Gill leads a new-look Indian Test team when the five-match series against England begins on June 20, the spotlight will be huge on premier fast-bowler Jasprit...
India to begin Women’s ODI WC against SL in Bengaluru, face Pakistan in Colombo on October 5
New Delhi: Hosts India will begin the much-anticipated 2025 ICC Women’s ODI World Cup against Sri Lanka at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium on September 30, said the International Cricket Council...
Shubman Gill is fully ready to lead the Indian Test team in England, says Kuldeep Yadav
Beckenham: Left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav believes Shubman Gill is completely prepared to captain the Indian Test team on their five-match Test tour of England, starting in Leeds on June 20....
‘At 21, I haven’t seen more talented player’: Venkatesh lauds Akshat Raghuwanshi for match-defining knock in MPL
Gwalior: Indore Pink Panthers skipper Venkatesh Iyer lavished praises on young Akshat Raghuwanshi, who played a match-defining knock in their six-run win over Jabalpur Royal Lions in Match 5 of...
Head coach Gambhir flies back to India from England due to family emergency
New Delhi: A week before India begins their five-match Test series against England in Leeds, head coach Gautam Gambhir has flown back home due to a family emergency. Gambhir had...
Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals crowned T20 Mumbai League 2025 champions
Mumbai: Siddhesh Lad-led Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals lifted the T20 Mumbai League 2025 trophy after beating Shreyas Iyer-led SoBo Mumbai Falcons by five wickets in the grand final at...
WTC Final: Match is 80 pc in Australia’s favour because of SA’s lack of intent, feels Hayden
London: Former Australia opener Matthew Hayden criticised South Africa's "lack of intent" on the opening day of the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia at Lord's. Temba Bavuma's side...
