Kalinga Super Cup 2024: Odisha Gears Up to Host Premier Football Tournament

Bhubaneswar: In a significant boost to the sports landscape of Odisha, the state is poised to host the 2024 edition of the Super Cup, rebranded as the Kalinga Super Cup with Odisha lending its support to the tournament. The event is scheduled to kick off on January 9, with the final set to take place on January 28, featuring matches at the Kalinga Sports Complex in Bhubaneswar. Sixteen teams, comprising 12 from the Indian Super League and four from the I-League, will compete in the tournament, divided into four groups.

Expressing anticipation for the tournament, Vineel Krishna, Secretary, Sports & Youth Services Department, stated, “We are looking forward to hosting the finest football clubs from all over the country. Football is growing rapidly in Odisha, and hosting back-to-back football events strengthens our ecosystem. Today, we have the best sports infrastructure and facilities, including five FIFA standard pitches where teams can train without any clash in schedule. All arrangements are being made in association with the All India Football Federation and Football Association of Odisha to ensure the clubs and fans have the best experience in Odisha. I would like to take this opportunity to extend our best wishes to all the participating clubs.”

The Kalinga Super Cup will follow a structure similar to previous editions, with the highest-ranked team from each group advancing to the semi-finals. The winner of the final will secure a spot in the 2024-25 AFC Champions League 2. It’s worth noting that Odisha FC holds the title of defending champions, having triumphed over Bengaluru FC in the 2023 final held in Kozhikode.

Odisha has a rich history with football, having previously hosted the Kalinga Cup, one of India’s oldest all-India football tournaments, instituted by Odisha’s legendary statesman and former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik in 1962. The state has been proactive in promoting football, with recent initiatives, including the inauguration of the AIFF-FIFA Talent Academy in Bhubaneswar by Hon Chief Minister Shri Naveen Patnaik, signaling a commitment to the development of the sport.

The state has also played host to crucial football matches, such as the India vs. Qatar match in the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup 2027 joint qualifier. Bhubaneswar serves as the home base for the India U16 and U19 teams, hosting their training camps regularly. Additionally, Odisha FC, in collaboration with the state, utilizes the prestigious Kalinga Stadium as its home ground, strengthening grassroots efforts in football development.