Kolkata, 22 July (H.S.): The 135th edition of the IndianOil Durand Cup, India's oldest and one of its most prestigious football tournaments, will kick off on July 25 with a blockbuster Kolkata Derby between Mohun Bagan Super Giant and East Bengal. The final will be played on August 23 at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata.
The tournament schedule and preparations were announced at a curtain-raiser press conference held in Kolkata on Wednesday. The event was attended by Lieutenant General Gambhir Singh, Chief of Staff, Eastern Command and Chairman of the Durand Cup Organising Committee; Major General Dinesh Kumar Singh, Vice-Chairman of the Organising Committee; Rajesh Pandey, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Youth Services and Sports, Government of West Bengal; Sports Secretary Abhijendra Singh; Sports Minister Indranil Khan; and several senior Army and organising committee officials.
A total of 24 teams will participate in this year's tournament, divided into six groups. The six group winners, along with the two best runners-up, will qualify for the quarter-finals, scheduled for August 17 and 18. The semi-finals will follow before the title clash on August 23.
The opening fixture between Mohun Bagan Super Giant and East Bengal is expected to draw huge crowds and television viewership, with the iconic Kolkata Derby marking the start of the competition. West Bengal will host 16 matches, including the opening game and the final.
This year's Durand Cup will be played across six stadiums in five cities—Kolkata, Ranchi, Guwahati, Imphal and Shillong. Ranchi has been included as a host city for the first time. The organisers thanked the Jharkhand government and all partner agencies for their support in hosting the tournament.
Addressing the media, Lieutenant General Gambhir Singh said the Durand Cup plays a crucial role in sustaining football's popularity in India beyond global events such as the FIFA World Cup. He said the tournament is being organised with the support of the Indian Army, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), state governments and other stakeholders. He also announced that the total prize purse for this year's edition, including the championship and individual awards, will be around Rs 3 crore.
Rajesh Pandey described the Durand Cup as an integral part of India's sporting heritage and said the West Bengal government was committed to ensuring the successful conduct of the tournament.
Sports Minister Indranil Khan said football remains an inseparable part of Bengal's identity. After Rosogolla, if there is one thing Bengal is known for, it is football, he said, adding that hosting both the opening match and the final was a matter of pride for the state. He said the 16 matches scheduled in West Bengal would be a football festival for fans.
The organisers also recalled that the 135th IndianOil Durand Cup was formally inaugurated by President Droupadi Murmu on July 7, 2026. With matches set to begin on July 25, the country's oldest football tournament is set for another exciting edition. All matches will be streamed live on SonyLIV.
Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh
