Defending champions Odisha FC and runners-up Bengaluru FC were paired in the same group for the Super Cup

Odisha FC, who recently qualified for the semi-finals of the AFC Cup inter-zone play-offs, had defeated Bengaluru FC in the 2023 Super Cup final in Kozhikode, Kerala.

Defending champions Odisha FC and runners-up Bengaluru FC were paired in the same group for the Super Cup.

New Delhi, December 18: Reigning champions Odisha FC were on Monday clubbed together with the previous edition’s runners-up, Bengaluru FC, in the same group for the Super Cup football tournament to be held in Bhubaneswar from January 9 to 28.

Another FC Goa team from the Indian Super League and an I-League club (to be announced after the qualifying play-off) will form the four-team Group D, according to the draw for the group stage held here .

Odisha FC, who recently qualified for the semi-finals of the AFC Cup inter-zone play-offs, had defeated Bengaluru FC in the 2023 Super Cup final in Kozhikode, Kerala.

Kolkata rivals Mohun Bagan and East Bengal were also clubbed together in the same group.

However, national team players from various clubs will miss all or most of the Super Cup tournament as they will play in the AFC Asian Cup in Doha from January 12.

Sixteen teams (12 from ISL and four from I-League) will participate in the tournament and will be divided into four groups of four teams each.
The top-ranked team from each group advances to the semi-finals. The winner of the final, which will be played on January 28, will earn a ticket for the AFC Champions League 2 2024/25.
Five I-League teams – Gokulam Kerala FC, Sreenidi Deccan FC, Shillong Lajong FC, Inter Kashi and Rajasthan United FC – confirmed their

participation in the Supercup. The top three of these four teams will qualify directly for the tournament, as per the I-League rankings dated December 24.
The bottom two teams will play in a one-leg qualifying play-off on January 9 to determine the fourth and final I-League team in the group stage.

Group A consists of Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, Hyderabad FC and the top-ranked I-League team, while Group B has Kerala Blasters, NorthEast United, Jamshedpur FC and the second-ranked I-League side.

Mumbai City, Chennaiyin FC, Punjab FC and the third-ranked I-League club formed Group C.

The teams were divided into four pots, with the 12 ISL teams placed in pots 1-3, based on their points per match in the ISL 2023-24 on December 17.

AIFF’s Acting General Secretary Satyanarayan M said, “One of the reasons why we are holding the Super Cup in January is because of the problems the clubs faced when they played in April last year.

“One of the most important rules we have adjusted is that clubs are allowed to field all six foreigners of the eleven players playing. Hopefully it will help the clubs. The winners will also receive a place in a continental club competition. Good luck to all teams,” he added.