Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Aug 3: The fourth edition of the AIFF Futsal Club Championship 2024–25 kicks off on Sunday, August 3, at the Shri Manoj Sarkar Stadium – Shivalik Hall in Rudrapur, Uttarakhand, with 17 clubs from across India competing for the top futsal title over the next 16 days.
The tournament begins with a Group A double-header, where Triumph FC from Himachal Pradesh takes on Real Lona FC from Ladakh — both debutants — followed by a high-voltage clash between former champions Minerva Academy FC and returning contenders Juggernaut FC from Gujarat.
The format sees the 17 teams divided into four groups — three groups of four teams and one group of five. The top two from each group will advance to the quarter-finals, culminating in the final on August 18.
Group A, the only five-team group, will feature a mix of new and returning clubs. Alongside the debutants, Juggernaut FC and Aphuyemi FC from Nagaland return after a season-long absence, aiming to move past the group stage for the first time. Minerva Academy FC, 2022–23 champions and quarter-finalists last year, will be looking to become the first team to win the tournament twice.
Group B promises fireworks with a rematch of last year’s final between defending champions Corbett FC (Uttarakhand) and Golazo FC (Himachal Pradesh) scheduled for August 11. Also in this group are Bhawanipore FC from West Bengal, debuting with an experienced squad, and Thlangtiang FC from Mizoram, hoping to emulate past success by Mizo clubs in the tournament.
In Group C, three clubs — K3 FC (Karnataka), Pondicherry United Football Academy, and Hazrat Nizamuddin Club (Madhya Pradesh) — make their national debut, while Goal Hunterz FC from Delhi return for a third consecutive appearance. After falling short of the knockout stage in previous seasons, the capital side will be hoping to finally make a breakthrough.
Group D features last year’s semi-finalists Ambelim SC from Goa, joined by three debutant clubs — Real Malabar FC Kondotty (Kerala), OGP Club (Odisha), and TOFA (Telangana). Real Malabar make history as the first-ever club from Kerala to participate in the tournament. TOFA steps in for Telangana’s former representative Speed Force FC, while OGP becomes Odisha’s third club to feature in the competition after Mangala Club and Sports Odisha.
With several new entrants and seasoned squads in the fray, the 2024–25 edition is set to be the most competitive yet, as clubs from across the country vie for national futsal supremacy in Rudrapur.