The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has announced that the Super Cup 2025 will be held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha from April 21, 2025. This tournament will feature 16 teams battling for the trophy. Out of these 16 teams, 13 sides will be from Indian Super League (ISL) and 3 sides will be from I-League. This year, the tournament is again happening in Bhuvneshwar as the last season happened at the same venue. East Bengal FC are currently the defending champions of the Super Cup, who will be aiming for a good finish after poor run in the ISL League stage.
Whenis Super Cup 2025 starting?
As per AIFF’s announcement, the tournament kicks off on April 21, 2025, in Bhubaneswar. While the format and exact schedule have yet to be finalised, the confirmation of the venue and dates was made clear in a statement by Anilkumar Prabhakaran who’s the General Secretary of AIFF.
High stakes with Asian Champions League 2
This is an important football tournament for all the teams, as the participating clubs will get a chance to secure a spot in the AFC Champions League 2 (ACL2) playoffs. Mohun Bagan SG has already bagged a direct entry into the ACL2 group stage by winning the ISL Shield this season. With such high stakes, the 2025 Super Cup becomes really important for the football clubs.
Evolution of the Super Cup
The Super Cup which turned from the Federation Cup in 2018, has seen three of its last four editions hosted in Bhubaneswar. It was officially renamed the Kalinga Super Cup in 2024. Last year, East Bengal claimed victory in a nail-biting 3-2 extra-time win against Odisha, marking their first major trophy in 12 years.
Discussions are underway to potentially change the format for upcoming editions, making sure that the tournament remains fresh and exciting for the viewers. The 2025 Super Cup will follow a knockout format, promising intense competition as clubs vie for their place in the ACL2 Playoffs.
