Kalinga Super Cup 2025 Fixtures Unveiled: High-Stakes Knockouts Await in Bhubaneswar
The anticipation surrounding Indian football’s premier domestic knockout tournament has reached a crescendo with the official announcement of the Kalinga Super Cup 2025 fixtures. On Monday, April 7, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) confirmed the schedule for the upcoming edition of the tournament, set to take place from April 20 to May 3 at the iconic Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
This year’s edition will maintain its single-elimination knockout format, promising high-octane drama from the outset. A total of 16 teams will compete for glory — 13 clubs from the Indian Super League (ISL) and 3 from the I-League. Notably, this structure places every side on the knife’s edge, with no second chances.
I-League Meets ISL: A Clash of Tiers
The inclusion of Churchill Brothers FC Goa, Inter Kashi, and Gokulam Kerala FC from the I-League adds an element of unpredictability to the tournament. These three clubs are set to face the top three ISL finishers of the 2024–25 season — Mohun Bagan Super Giant, FC Goa, and Bengaluru FC — in the Round of 16. The exact pairings will be determined via a draw on Wednesday, April 9.
Full Fixture Schedule: Tension from the First Whistle
The Round of 16 will unfold over four days:
- April 20 & 21, and
- April 23 & 24, featuring mouth-watering ties such as Kerala Blasters vs East Bengal FC and Odisha FC vs Punjab FC.
Quarter-finals are scheduled for April 26 and 27, followed by the semi-finals on April 30. The grand finale will be contested on May 3, with one team earning the coveted title and qualification for the 2025–26 AFC Champions League Two Preliminary Round.
Format and Rules: Sudden Death Intensified
In keeping with the tournament’s cutthroat nature, no extra time will be played in the Round of 16, quarter-finals, or semi-finals. If scores are level at the end of regulation time, matches will go straight to a penalty shootout. Only the final allows for extra time, followed by penalties if needed, to determine the champion.
A Battle for Continental Ambition
The stakes extend beyond national pride. The winner of the Kalinga Super Cup 2025 will earn a ticket to the AFC Champions League Two Preliminary Round, a pathway to continental recognition.
East Bengal FC enters the tournament as defending champions, having triumphed over Odisha FC in last year’s final at the same venue. Odisha FC (2023), FC Goa (2019), and Bengaluru FC (2018) are the previous winners of the revamped Super Cup.
🏆 KALINGA SUPER CUP 2025 – ROUND OF 16 FIXTURES (ISL seedings in brackets)
Sunday, April 20
- 16:30 — Kerala Blasters FC (8) vs East Bengal FC (9)
- 20:00 — Mohun Bagan SG (1) vs I-League Club – TBC
Monday, April 21
- 16:30 — FC Goa (2) vs I-League Club – TBC
- 20:00 — Odisha FC (7) vs Punjab FC (10)
Wednesday, April 23
- 16:30 — Bengaluru FC (3) vs I-League Club – TBC
- 20:00 — Mumbai City FC (6) vs Chennaiyin FC (11)
Thursday, April 24
- 16:30 — NorthEast United FC (4) vs Mohammedan SC (13)
- 20:00 — Jamshedpur FC (5) vs Hyderabad FC (12)