Kalinga Super Cup 2025: 15 Teams Compete for Asian Glory

Bhubaneswar, April 19 (NationPress) The fifth edition of the Kalinga Super Cup is set to begin on Sunday, featuring 15 teams vying for the coveted trophy and a place in next season's AFC Champions League Two. In contrast to the previous two years, where a group stage and semifinals were held, this year's tournament will adopt a strictly knockout format reminiscent of the 2018 and 2019 competitions, making each match a 'do or die' affair.

The Kalinga Super Cup's deep-rooted connection with Bhubaneswar is undeniable. Of the four editions since its inception in 2018, three have taken place at the Kalinga Stadium. The only time the tournament was hosted outside Odisha was in 2023 at Kozhikode, where Odisha FC claimed the trophy, bringing it back to Bhubaneswar.

Last year, East Bengal FC seized the championship, triumphing over the Juggernauts 3-2 in a thrilling extra-time final. This victory ended their 12-year drought for a national title, and they are eager to defend their crown on the same ground. East Bengal has a history of defending cup titles, having won consecutive Federation Cups in 2009-10 and 2010.

The Kolkata side will commence their title defense in the Round of 16 on Sunday against Kerala Blasters FC, who are in pursuit of their inaugural national trophy. Both teams had lackluster ISL seasons, finishing in ninth and eighth place, respectively, so this tournament offers them a chance at redemption. The winner of this match will advance to face Mohun Bagan Super Giant, who received a bye after Churchill Brothers withdrew, in the first quarterfinal.

On Monday, FC Goa, the 2019 champions, will clash with Gokulam Kerala FC in an inter-league encounter. The Gaurs have struggled in the last two editions, failing to progress past the group stage and will be determined to reclaim the trophy and return to the continental arena after their 2021 AFC Champions League appearance. Meanwhile, Gokulam Kerala is also aiming for a second Asian campaign following the 2022 AFC Cup, but they have yet to advance past the Round of 16 in the Kalinga Super Cup.

Later on Monday, host team Odisha FC will take on Punjab FC. Since their Kalinga Super Cup debut in 2023, the Juggernauts have established themselves as a formidable force in the tournament.

Having won the championship in 2023 and finished as runners-up in 2024, the Super Cup has become their favorite competition, also enabling their first AFC Cup appearance in 2023-24. Punjab FC, who made their debut in 2023, have yet to progress beyond the group stage, having secured just one victory in six matches across two seasons.

Bengaluru FC will meet Inter Kashi for the third time in two seasons on Wednesday. Their previous encounters included a 1-1 draw in the 2024 Kalinga Super Cup group stage, followed by a 3-0 victory for the Blues in the Durand Cup group stage in August last year.

The sting of losing the ISL Final is still fresh for Bengaluru FC, intensifying their desire to become the first club to win the Super Cup twice and to end their four-year hiatus from Asian competitions. Inter Kashi debuted in the Kalinga Super Cup last year, successfully qualifying but ending the group stage winless in three matches.

Later that day, Mumbai City FC will square off against Chennaiyin FC for the fourth time in the Super Cup, marking it as the most frequently contested fixture in the tournament's short history. The Islanders edged out the Marina Machans 1-0 in both of the last two seasons' group stages, while Chennaiyin emerged victorious 2-0 in the Round of 16 in 2019.

Mumbai City boasts a 13-match unbeaten streak against Chennaiyin across all competitions, with the Marina Machans last winning this fixture in February 2020. Both teams have past experience in continental competitions, with Mumbai City participating in the 2022 and 2023-24 AFC Champions League, and Chennaiyin FC competing in the 2019 AFC Cup.

NorthEast United FC will face Mohammedan Sporting on Thursday. This season has already been historic for the Highlanders, who secured their first-ever silverware with the Durand Cup in August and reached the ISL playoffs. NorthEast, having previously made it to the Super Cup semifinals in 2023, is eager for another cup victory to conclude their season, similar to how they started it, while also eyeing a maiden ticket to Asia.

On the other hand, Mohammedan SC hopes to achieve success in the Kalinga Super Cup after a disappointing debut ISL season that concluded with only two wins. This will be their second appearance in the Super Cup after suffering a 5-2 defeat to Gokulam Kerala in the qualifying round in 2023.

The Round of 16 will wrap up with a match between Jamshedpur FC and Hyderabad FC later that day. The Red Miners, who reached the semifinals in both of the previous Super Cups and this season's ISL, are eager to take a few steps further and finally claim the trophy.

Hyderabad will make their third appearance in the Super Cup but have yet to leave a mark in their first two attempts, having exited the group stage in 2023 and 2024 with only one win in six matches. Thus, the Nizams are hopeful that the third time will indeed be the charm for a successful cup run. The quarterfinals are scheduled for April 26 and 27, the semifinals on April 30, and the final on May 3.

Where is the Kalinga Super Cup 2025 being held?

The Kalinga Super Cup 2025 will take place at the Kalinga Stadium.

When is the Kalinga Super Cup 2025?

The tournament will commence on Sunday, April 20, with the final slated for May 3.

Where can you watch the Kalinga Super Cup 2025?

The Kalinga Super Cup 2025 will be aired on Star Sports Network and live-streamed on JioHotstar.