The 135th edition of the Durand Cup got underway in spectacular fashion at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on Saturday, with a colourful opening ceremony celebrating India’s cultural diversity, the martial traditions of the Indian Armed Forces and the rich artistic heritage of West Bengal.
Organised by the Indian Armed Forces with the support of the Government of West Bengal, the tournament opened in the presence of senior civil and military dignitaries, representatives of participating clubs, sponsors, partners and members of the football fraternity.
Among those present were Dr. Indranil Khan, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Services and Sports and Consumer Affairs, Government of West Bengal; Shri Tapas Roy, Minister-in-Charge of the Department of Industry; Shri Dilip Ghosh, Minister of Panchayat and Rural Development; Dr. Sharadwat Mukherjee, Minister of Health and Family Welfare; Lieutenant General V. M. B. Krishnan, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Command and Patron of the Durand Cup Organising Committee; Shri Avanindra Singh, IAS, Secretary, Department of Youth Services and Sports; Lieutenant General Gambhir Singh, Chairman of the Durand Cup Organising Committee; Major General Dinesh Kumar Singh, Vice Chairman of the Organising Committee; and Major General Rupesh Sehgal, along with other senior officials.
The ceremony commenced with a tribute to the martial traditions of the Indian Armed Forces through performances of the Khukri Dance, Gatka, Seraikella Chhau, Kalaripayattu, Jhanjh Pathak, Krav Maga demonstrations and displays by the North-East Warriors.
The cultural segment, presented by the Government of West Bengal, showcased the state’s rich artistic traditions through Rabindrasangeet, compositions of Dwijendralal Ray, Baul music, Srikhol performances, tribal dances accompanied by the Dhamsa and Madol, Purulia Chhau depicting Mahisasur Mardini, an all-women Dhak ensemble heralding the approach of Durga Puja and a cultural fusion celebrating India’s unity in diversity.
A major attraction of the evening was the ceremonial Trophy Drill featuring the tournament’s three historic trophies—the Durand Cup, the President’s Cup and the Simla Trophy. This was followed by an audio-visual presentation chronicling the 138-year history of Asia’s oldest football tournament and its contribution to Indian football.
Ahead of the opening match, the official match ball was ceremonially brought onto the field before the Eastern Command Flag, the Durand Cup Flag and the AIFF Fair Play Flag were marched onto the pitch, symbolising the values of excellence, discipline and sportsmanship.
The players entered the field accompanied by children, including differently abled students from the ASHA School run by Eastern Command, children from the Barrackpur Avenue Women’s Cultural and Social Welfare Society and children of serving soldiers, underscoring the Indian Army’s commitment to inclusivity and community engagement.
The dignitaries were introduced to the players and match officials before Army helicopters carrying the National Flag and the Durand Cup Flag conducted a ceremonial flypast over the stadium, marking the official opening of the tournament.
Dr. Indranil Khan formally declared the 135th Durand Cup open and performed the ceremonial kick-off alongside the participating teams and match officials. The ceremony concluded with an official group photograph featuring the dignitaries, players and the tournament’s three iconic trophies before the competition commenced with the tournament-opening Kolkata Derby between East Bengal FC and Mohun Bagan Super Giant.
Organised by the Eastern Command of the Indian Army on behalf of the three Services, with support from the respective host state governments, the Durand Cup remains the world’s third-oldest surviving football competition. Established in 1888, the tournament continues to play a significant role in Indian football by bringing together leading domestic clubs, Services teams and international participants.
The 135th Durand Cup will be held from July 25 to August 23, 2026, across five host cities—Kolkata, Ranchi, Guwahati, Shillong and Imphal. The tournament features 24 teams, including a side representing the Sri Lankan Armed Forces, competing in 43 matches across six venues.
