Durand Cup 2026: Kolkata Derby Kicks Off Asia's Oldest Football Tournament
Exciting Start to the Durand Cup 2026
The 2026 edition of the Durand Cup is set to commence with a thrilling encounter between Mohun Bagan Super Giant and East Bengal FC in the Kolkata Derby on July 25. This match will mark the beginning of the 135th iteration of Asia's oldest football tournament.
The opening match will take place at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Salt Lake, Kolkata, with the tournament running until August 23 across five cities: Kolkata, Ranchi, Imphal, Shillong, and Guwahati. A total of 24 teams have been divided into six groups, and the competition is expected to heat up right from the start.
Mohun Bagan SG and East Bengal, the two most successful clubs in the tournament's history, are both in Group A. Mohun Bagan, with 17 titles, and East Bengal, with 16, will compete alongside South United FC and CISF Protectors, making this group particularly competitive.
Kolkata will also host matches for Group B, featuring Mohammedan SC against Indian Army FT, while newcomers Baghpat FC and Samaleswari Sporting will add excitement to the group. For the first time, Ranchi will host Durand Cup matches, expanding the tournament's reach.
Group C includes Jamshedpur FC, Sporting Club Delhi, Indian Air Force FT, and Sri Lanka's Defenders FC. In Imphal, Group D will see local teams TRAU FC and NEROCA FC compete against FC Raengdai and Indian Navy FT. Shillong's Group E will feature Shillong Lajong FC facing Langsning FC, Nongkseh SS&CC, and tournament debutant Mumbay FC.
Defending champions NorthEast United FC will kick off their title defense in Guwahati, aiming for a third consecutive Durand Cup victory. They are placed in Group F alongside Bodoland FC, FC1, and Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC.
The tournament will follow a traditional format, with the six group winners and the two best runners-up advancing to the quarterfinals. The knockout stage will commence on August 16, with semifinals scheduled for August 19 and 20. The champion of the 135th Durand Cup will be crowned in Kolkata on August 23, concluding another chapter in the history of Asian football.