The 135th Durand Cup will get underway with a blockbuster Kolkata Derby as Mohun Bagan Super Giant face arch-rivals East Bengal FC in the tournament opener at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on July 25.
The fixtures for the 135th edition of Asia’s oldest football tournament were announced on Thursday, with the competition set to run until August 23 across five host cities—Kolkata, Ranchi, Imphal, Shillong and Guwahati. A total of 24 teams have been drawn into six groups, featuring Indian Super League clubs, Services teams, regional outfits and overseas participation.
Kolkata, which has hosted the Durand Cup since 2019, will once again serve as the tournament’s main venue, staging Groups A and B, the opening match, two quarter-finals, the first semi-final and the final. Ranchi will make its debut as a host city with all Group C fixtures, while Imphal, Shillong and Guwahati will host Groups D, E and F respectively.
The opening Kolkata Derby headlines Group A, which also includes South United FC and CISF Protectors. Group B features Mohammedan SC, Indian Army FT and debutants Baghpat FC and Samaleswari Sporting.
Ranchi’s inaugural campaign begins on July 26 with Jamshedpur FC taking on Sri Lankan side Defenders FC in Group C, which also includes Sporting Club Delhi and Indian Air Force FT. Imphal’s Group D opens on July 28 with a highly anticipated Manipur derby between TRAU FC and NEROCA FC.
Shillong will host Group E from July 31, where Shillong Lajong FC, Langsning FC, Nongkseh SS&CC and debutants Mumbay FC will compete, while defending champions NorthEast United FC begin their quest for a third successive title in Group F against Bodoland FC in Guwahati on August 1.
The top team from each group, along with the two best second-placed sides, will progress to the quarter-finals. The knockout stage begins on August 16 with matches in Ranchi and Kolkata, followed by two more quarter-finals in Kolkata and Shillong on August 17.
The first semi-final will be played in Kolkata on August 19, with Shillong hosting the second on August 20. The final will be held at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on August 23.
From the curtain-raising Kolkata Derby to the title clash in Kolkata, the month-long tournament promises another compelling chapter in the rich history of Indian football’s oldest competition.
