The 135th edition of the Durand Cup, Asia’s oldest football tournament, gets underway on July 25 with a blockbuster Kolkata Derby between Mohun Bagan Super Giant and East Bengal FC at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata. Widely regarded as the curtain-raiser to the Indian domestic football season, this year’s tournament features 24 teams from the Indian Super League (ISL), I-League, I-League 2, the Armed Forces, and Sri Lankan club Defenders FC.
For the first time in its history, the Durand Cup will be hosted across five states—West Bengal, Jharkhand, Manipur, Meghalaya and Assam.
Durand Cup History
Founded in 1888 in Simla, the Durand Cup is the oldest football tournament in Asia and the third-oldest football competition in the world. Since shifting its base to Kolkata under the Eastern Command in 2019, the tournament has expanded into a multi-state event while continuing to play a significant role in Indian football.
Mohun Bagan remains the most successful club in the competition’s history with 17 titles, followed closely by East Bengal with 16 championships.
The tournament winners will receive three prestigious trophies:
- Durand Cup (Rolling Trophy)
- Simla Trophy
- President’s Cup (crafted afresh every year)
Durand Cup 2026 Format
The tournament features 24 teams divided into six groups.
- Six group winners qualify for the quarter-finals.
- The two best second-placed teams also advance.
- Quarter-finals begin on August 16.
- The final will be played on August 23 in Kolkata.
Durand Cup 2026 Groups
Group A
- Mohun Bagan Super Giant
- East Bengal FC
- South United FC
- CISF Protectors
Group B
- Mohammedan SC
- Indian Army FT
- Baghpat FC
- Samaleswari Sporting
Group C
- Jamshedpur FC
- SC Delhi
- Indian Air Force FT
- Defenders FC (Sri Lanka)
Group D
- TRAU FC
- NEROCA FC
- FC Raengdai
- Indian Navy FT
Group E
- Shillong Lajong FC
- Langsning FC
- Nongkseh SS&CC
- Mumbay FC
Group F
- NorthEast United FC
- Bodoland FC
- FC1
- Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC
Durand Cup 2026 Full Fixtures
July 25
- East Bengal FC vs Mohun Bagan Super Giant – 5:00 PM (Kolkata)
July 26
- Jamshedpur FC vs Defenders FC – 5:00 PM (Ranchi)
- Indian Army FT vs Samaleswari Sporting – 7:30 PM (Kolkata)
July 27
- Mohammedan SC vs Baghpat FC – 7:00 PM (Kolkata)
July 28
- TRAU FC vs NEROCA FC – 5:00 PM (Imphal)
- South United FC vs CISF Protectors – 7:30 PM (Imphal)
July 29
- Indian Air Force FT vs Defenders FC – 7:00 PM (Ranchi)
July 30
- FC Raengdai vs Indian Navy FT – 4:00 PM (Imphal)
- Samaleswari Sporting vs Baghpat FC – 7:00 PM (Kolkata)
July 31
- Shillong Lajong FC vs Nongkseh SS&CC – 5:00 PM (Shillong)
- East Bengal FC vs CISF Protectors – 7:30 PM (Kolkata)
August 1
- NorthEast United FC vs Bodoland FC – 4:30 PM (Guwahati)
August 2
- Mohammedan SC vs Samaleswari Sporting – 4:00 PM (Kolkata)
August 3
- TRAU FC vs FC Raengdai – 4:00 PM (Imphal)
- Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC vs FC1 – 4:00 PM (Guwahati)
- Langsning FC vs Mumbay FC – 7:00 PM (Shillong)
August 4
- Jamshedpur FC vs SC Delhi – 4:00 PM (Ranchi)
- Mohun Bagan Super Giant vs South United FC – 7:00 PM (Kolkata)
August 5
- NEROCA FC vs Indian Navy FT – 4:00 PM (Imphal)
- Indian Army FT vs Baghpat FC – 7:00 PM (Kolkata)
August 6
- Bodoland FC vs FC1 – 4:00 PM (Guwahati)
- Nongkseh SS&CC vs Langsning FC – 7:00 PM (Shillong)
August 7
- SC Delhi vs Defenders FC – 4:00 PM (Ranchi)
- East Bengal FC vs South United FC – 7:00 PM (Kolkata)
August 8
- Shillong Lajong FC vs Mumbay FC – 4:00 PM (Shillong)
- NorthEast United FC vs Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC – 7:00 PM (Guwahati)
August 9
- TRAU FC vs Indian Navy FT – 4:00 PM (Imphal)
August 10
- Mohun Bagan Super Giant vs CISF Protectors – 4:00 PM (Kolkata)
- SC Delhi vs Indian Air Force FT – 7:00 PM (Ranchi)
August 11
- NorthEast United FC vs FC1 – 4:00 PM (Guwahati)
- Nongkseh SS&CC vs Mumbay FC – 7:00 PM (Shillong)
August 12
- NEROCA FC vs FC Raengdai – 4:00 PM (Imphal)
- Mohammedan SC vs Indian Army FT – 7:00 PM (Kolkata)
August 13
- Bodoland FC vs Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC – 4:00 PM (Guwahati)
- Jamshedpur FC vs Indian Air Force FT – 4:00 PM (Ranchi)
- Shillong Lajong FC vs Langsning FC – 7:00 PM (Shillong)
Knockout Schedule
Quarter-finals
August 16
- QF1 – 4:00 PM (Ranchi)
- QF2 – 7:00 PM (Kolkata)
August 17
- QF3 – 4:00 PM (Kolkata)
- QF4 – 7:00 PM (Shillong)
Semi-finals
- August 19: SF1 – 7:00 PM (Kolkata)
- August 20: SF2 – 7:00 PM (Shillong)
Final
- August 23: SF1 Winner vs SF2 Winner – Kolkata
Where to Watch Durand Cup 2026 Live
Football fans can watch the live telecast of the Durand Cup 2026 on the Sony Sports Network.
The tournament will also be live streamed on the Sony LIV app and website.