Kalinga Super Cup: Kerala Blasters to Face East Bengal FC in Opening Match on April 20
Click to start listening
Synopsis
Kerala Blasters will kick off the Kalinga Super Cup 2025 against East Bengal FC on April 20 in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The tournament will feature 16 teams competing in a knockout format, with the final scheduled for May 3.
Key Takeaways
- Kerala Blasters face East Bengal FC on April 20.
- 16 teams will compete in the Kalinga Super Cup.
- Matches will be held at Kalinga Stadium.
- Format is single-elimination knockout.
- Defending champions: East Bengal FC.
New Delhi, April 7 (NationPress) Kerala Blasters are set to face East Bengal FC in the inaugural match of the Kalinga Super Cup 2025 on April 20, as announced by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Monday.
This tournament will unfold in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, from April 20 to May 3, featuring a total of 16 clubs: 13 from the Indian Super League and 3 from the I-League, competing in a single-elimination knockout format. All matches are scheduled to take place at the Kalinga Stadium.
The ISL teams are seeded for the round of 16 based on their final league standings in the 2024-25 season. Three I-League teams have confirmed their participation: Churchill Brothers FC Goa, Inter Kashi, and Gokulam Kerala FC. They will compete against the top three ISL teams: Mohun Bagan Super Giant, FC Goa, and Bengaluru FC. These matchups will be determined by a draw on Wednesday.
The round of 16 will occur on April 20, 21, 23, and 24, the quarter-finals on April 26 and 27, the semi-finals on April 30, and the final on May 3. In the event of a tie at the end of 90 minutes during the round of 16, quarter-finals, and semi-finals, there will be no extra time, and a penalty shoot-out will determine the winner. However, if the final ends in a draw after 90 minutes, extra time will be played, followed by a penalty shoot-out to crown the champion.
The champions of the Kalinga Super Cup 2025 will secure a place in the 2025-26 AFC Champions League Two Preliminary Round. East Bengal FC are the defending champions, having triumphed over Odisha FC in the 2024 final held in Bhubaneswar. Past winners of the Super Cup include Odisha FC (2023), FC Goa (2019), and Bengaluru FC (2018).
Kalinga Super Cup schedule:
Round of 16 (seeds in bracket):
Sunday, April 20 — Kerala Blasters FC (8) vs East Bengal FC (9)
Sunday, April 20 — Mohun Bagan SG (1) vs I-League Club - TBC
Monday, April 21 — FC Goa (2) vs I-League Club - TBC
Monday, April 21 — Odisha FC (7) vs Punjab FC (10)
Wednesday, April 23 — Bengaluru FC (3) vs I-League Club - TBC
Wednesday, April 23 — Mumbai City FC (6) vs Chennaiyin FC (11)
Thursday, April 24 — NorthEast United FC (4) vs Mohammedan Sporting Club (13)
Friday, April 24 — Jamshedpur FC (5) vs Hyderabad FC (12)
Quarter-finals:
QF1 - Saturday, April 26 — KBFC/EBFC vs MBSG/I-League
QF2 - Saturday, April 26 — FCG/I-League vs OFC/PFC
QF3 - Sunday, April 27 — BFC/I-League vs MCFC/CFC
QF4 - Sunday, April 27 — NEUFC/MSC vs JFC/HFC
Semi-finals:
SF1 - Wednesday, April 30 — Winner QF1 vs Winner QF2
SF2 - Wednesday, April 30 — Winner QF3 vs Winner QF4
Final:
Saturday, May 3 — Winner SF1 vs Winner SF2
