The Indian Army has consistently made significant contributions to Indian sports by nurturing world-class athletes across disciplines. Through its robust sports programmes and institutions such as the Mission Olympics Wing, the Army has produced and supported numerous Olympians, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and World Championship medallists. Renowned for fostering discipline, resilience and excellence, the Indian Army continues to play a vital role in strengthening India’s sporting ecosystem while enabling soldiers to excel on both national and international stages.
The countdown to the 135th edition of the Durand Cup gathered momentum as the Durand Cup Organising Committee announced the 24 participating teams and confirmed the tournament’s schedule across five host cities.
The competition will kick off in Kolkata on July 25 before moving across Ranchi, Imphal, Guwahati and Shillong over the next four weeks. The tournament will conclude with the final at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on August 23.
Hosted across five footballing hubs, this year’s edition will once again feature a mix of top Indian clubs, Services teams, emerging sides and international participation, continuing the tournament’s legacy of blending tradition with the modern game.
Kolkata, the home of the Durand Cup since 2019, remains the tournament’s focal point.
The city will host two groups, the opening match, two quarter-finals, one semi-final and the final. Matches will be played at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan and Kishore Bharati Krirangan between July 25 and August 23.
The Kolkata roster is headlined by record 17-time champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant and 16-time winners East Bengal FC. They will be joined by Mohammedan SC, South United FC, CISF Football Team, the Indian Army Football Team, Durand Cup debutants Baghpat FC—reigning I-League 3 champions promoted to I-League 2 this season—and Samaleswari Sporting from Odisha.
Ranchi will make its debut as a Durand Cup host city, with the Birsa Munda Stadium staging league matches from July 26 to August 16 before hosting one of the four quarter-finals. The city’s lineup includes Jamshedpur FC, Sporting Club Delhi, the Indian Air Force Football Team and Sri Lankan Armed Forces side Defenders FC, making their tournament debut.
Imphal will once again host the competition, underlining Manipur’s status as one of India’s strongest footballing regions. The Khuman Lampak Stadium will stage matches from July 28 to August 17, including a quarter-final. Local clubs TRAU FC and NEROCA FC will be joined by the Indian Navy Football Team and FC Raengdai, runners-up in last season’s I-League 3.
Shillong continues its association with the tournament after successfully hosting matches last year. The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium will stage fixtures from July 31 to August 20, culminating in one of the semi-finals. The Shillong leg will feature Shillong Lajong FC, Nongkseh Sports, Social & Cultural Club, Langsning FC and debutants Mumbay FC, offering a strong blend of local representation and inter-state competition.
The tournament also returns to Guwahati, where the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium will host league-stage matches from August 1 to August 13. Defending champions NorthEast United FC headline the group alongside FC1 (players from Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh), Bodoland FC and Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC.
The knockout stage will see quarter-finals played in Kolkata, Ranchi and Shillong, while the two semi-finals will be hosted in Shillong and Kolkata. The tournament will culminate with the final at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on August 23.
The 135th edition of the Durand Cup brings together some of Indian football’s most established clubs, ambitious emerging teams, Services sides and foreign Services teams, promising another exciting chapter in the country’s oldest football tournament.
