The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has announced the organization of the Kalinga Super Cup in Odisha, commencing on January 9, 2024. The tournament will feature teams from both the Indian Super League and the I-League, with matches scheduled across two venues in Odisha.
The format of the Kalinga Super Cup involves four groups, each consisting of four teams. These teams will engage in single-leg matches within their respective groups. The group winners will advance to the semi-finals, leading to the final match set to take place on January 28, 2024.
For I-League teams, there will be a qualifying stage to secure spots in the group stage of the Kalinga Super Cup, with four reserved slots. The Champions of the Kalinga Super Cup will earn a nomination to participate in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League preliminary stage for the AFC 2023-24 season.
AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey said, “As per the decision we took earlier, the annual Super Cup tournament will now be organised in a bigger and broader perspective. The tournament will now be known as Kalinga Super Cup and will be played in Odisha in January 2024. This is a positive development for Indian domestic football. I am confident the Kalinga Super Cup will be a huge hit both in terms of organisation and spectator interest.”
The Kalinga Super Cup has seen three editions to date, starting in 2018. Bengaluru, Goa, and Odisha have each claimed a title. In the most recent edition earlier this year, Odisha emerged victorious by defeating Bengaluru 2-1 in the final. The tournament serves as a significant platform for Indian football clubs, providing them with opportunities to showcase their talent and potentially compete at the continental level in the AFC Champions League.
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