Kalinga Super Cup

 HISTORY OF KALINGA SUPER CUP:   

                                        The Kalinga Super Cup's history began in 2018 when the All India Football Federation (AIFF) established it as the Super Cup, taking over from the Federation Cup as India's premier domestic cup competition. The inaugural edition saw Bengaluru FC crowned champions. After FC Goa's victory in 2019, the tournament faced a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It returned in 2023 with a group stage format, which saw Odisha FC lift their first major trophy on home soil in Bhubaneswar, which had become the consistent host venue. In 2024, the tournament was rebranded as the Kalinga Super Cup through a sponsorship with the Government of Odisha, and East Bengal FC secured their first title under this new name. The ongoing 2025 edition has shifted back to a straight knockout format, with East Bengal FC entering as the defending champions. The Kalinga Super Cup not only provides a platform for top Indian clubs from the ISL and I-League to compete but also offers the winner a coveted spot in Asian club competitions.

KALINGA SUPER CUP 2024:

                          The 2024 Kalinga Super Cup culminated in a thrilling final held on January 28, 2024, at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. East Bengal FC emerged as the champions, defeating the defending champions Odisha FC with a 3-2 scoreline in extra time. This victory marked East Bengal's first national title in 12 years.

The final was a dramatic affair. Odisha FC took the lead in the first half through Diego Mauricio. However, East Bengal fought back in the second half with goals from Nandhakumar Sekar and a penalty from Saúl Crespo, putting them in the lead. Late in injury time, Ahmed Jahouh scored a penalty for Odisha, pushing the game into extra time. The decisive goal came in the 111th minute when East Bengal's captain, Cleiton Silva, capitalized on a defensive error to secure the win for his team.

East Bengal's journey to the title saw them top Group A, which included Mohun Bagan, Sreenidi Deccan, and Hyderabad FC. They then defeated Jamshedpur FC 2-0 in the semi-finals. Odisha FC also topped their group (Group D), which consisted of FC Goa, Bengaluru FC, and Inter Kashi, before overcoming Mumbai City FC 1-0 in their semi-final clash.

As the winner of the Kalinga Super Cup 2024, East Bengal FC also earned a spot in the preliminary stage of the 2024-25 AFC Champions League Two. Cleiton Silva of East Bengal was the top scorer of the tournament with 5 goals, while Odisha FC's Isak Vanlalruatfela was named the Player of the Tournament.  

East Bengal FC the Winner of 2024 Edition

KALINGA SUPER CUP 2025:

                                The Kalinga Super Cup 2025 is the fifth edition of this national football cup competition in India. Here's a summary of what you need to know:

Dates and Venue: The tournament is currently underway, having started on April 20, 2025, and the final is scheduled for May 3, 2025. All matches are being held at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

Format: The 2025 edition has reverted to a straight knockout format involving 16 teams, a change from the group stage followed by knockouts seen in the 2023 and 2024 editions. If matches in the round of 16, quarter-finals, and semi-finals are tied at the end of regulation time, the winner will be decided by a penalty shootout. The final will have extra time if needed, followed by penalties if the score remains level.

Teams: A total of 16 teams are participating, consisting of 13 teams from the Indian Super League (ISL) and 3 teams from the I-League. The I-League teams that qualified are Gokulam Kerala FC and Inter Kashi FC. Churchill Brothers FC Goa was also initially included but later withdrew, granting Mohun Bagan Super Giant a direct entry into the quarter-finals.

KALINGA SUPER CUP FIXTURES 2025:

Round of 16:

Match	Date	Time (IST)	Fixture
1	April 20	4:30 PM	Kerala Blasters FC vs East Bengal FC
2	April 20	8:00 PM	Mohun Bagan SG vs Churchill Brothers FC Goa (Churchill Brothers withdrew, Mohun Bagan advances)
3	April 21	4:30 PM	FC Goa vs Gokulam Kerala FC
4	April 21	8:00 PM	Odisha FC vs Punjab FC
5	April 23	4:30 PM	Bengaluru FC vs Inter Kashi
6	April 23	8:00 PM	Mumbai City FC vs Chennaiyin FC
7	April 24	4:30 PM	NorthEast United FC vs Mohammedan SC
8	April 24	8:00 PM	Jamshedpur FC vs Hyderabad FC

Quarter-finals:

Match	Date	Time (IST)	Fixture
QF 1	April 26	4:30 PM	Winner Match 1 vs Winner Match 2
QF 2	April 26	8:00 PM	Winner Match 3 vs Winner Match 4
QF 3	April 27	4:30 PM	Winner Match 5 vs Winner Match 6
QF 4	April 27	8:00 PM	Winner Match 7 vs Winner Match 8

Semi-finals:

Match	Date	Time (IST)	Fixture
SF 1	April 30	4:30 PM	Winner QF 1 vs Winner QF 2
SF 2	April 30	8:00 PM	Winner QF 3 vs Winner QF 4

Final:

Match	Date	Time (IST)	Fixture
Final	May 3	TBD	Winner SF 1 vs Winner SF 2

Venue: All matches will be played at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

WHERE TO WATCH KALINGA SUPER CUP IN INDIA AND OVERSEAS:

                                    Kalinga Super cup is going to start April 20, 2025 to May 3, 2025 in Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The broadcast is going to be in Stars Sports 3 and JioHotstar in India. And on Onefootball App for International coverage.