The Super Cup, India's premier knock-out football tournament that also offers a spot in the AFC Champions League 2, is set to undergo a new format in the 2024-25 season, akin to England's FA Cup.
As per the calendar released by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) for the upcoming season, the Super Cup is slated to run from October 1, 2024, to May 15, 2025.
The Super Cup, which replaced the country's top knock-out tournament, the Federation Cup, in 2018, has had a duration of less than a month.
"The AIFF wants the Super Cup in FA Cup (of England) style from this season. That is why it has a window of more than seven months," an AIFF source told PTI.
The Super Cup will run almost simultaneously with the top-tier Indian Super League (ISL) and the second-tier I-League in the 2024-25 season.
Further information regarding the tournament, including its specific format, will be disclosed at a later date.
The Football Association Cup of England, an annual knockout domestic competition, is the oldest national football competition globally, having been first played during the 1871–72 season.
The FA Cup welcomes clubs from all 10 tiers of England's football pyramid, including those from the Premier League (PL).
Qualifying rounds kick off the competition, involving lower-division teams. Higher-ranked clubs enter in later stages based on their league positions.
The Super Cup, overseen by the AIFF, invites participation from all ISL and I-League clubs, the top two divisions of the national league system.
The most recent Super Cup took place in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, in January, featuring 16 clubs in the group stage.
ISL clubs were directly placed in the group stage, while I-League teams contested qualifiers for the remaining four spots.
During the group stage, clubs were divided into four groups, each comprising four teams. They competed in a single round-robin format, with the group winner advancing to the semifinals.
The Super Cup victor secures a place in the AFC Champions League 2, similar to how the FA Cup winner earns a spot in the UEFA Europa League.
The 11th edition of the ISL will commence on September 14 and conclude on April 30, 2025, while the I-League is scheduled from October 19 to April 30.
The senior competition calendar for the 2024-25 season will kick off with the Durand Cup, Asia's oldest tournament, slated from July 26 to August 31.
The 78th National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy is set for November 5 to 15 (Group Stage) and December 1 to 15 (Final Round).
The 29th Senior Women's National Football Championship is scheduled for September (Group Stage) and October (Final Round).
The Indian Women's League is slated from October 25, 2023, to April 30, 2024.
All senior leagues are planned to conclude by the end of April next year, as determined by the AIFF executive committee.
(Powered by AI, Inputs by PTI)
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
Big News: PCB announces Pakistan's Supreme Court advocate as interim chairman after Zaka Ashraf's sacking
PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf resigns from Cricket Board's top post after Pakistan's loss in 4th T20I vs NZ
