Shillong, July 1: The organisers of the 135th edition of the IndianOil Durand Cup have announced the 24 participating teams and host city schedule, with Shillong set to once again play a prominent role by hosting league-stage matches and one of the tournament’s two semi-finals.
The prestigious football tournament will kick off in Kolkata on July 25 and conclude with the final at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata, on August 23. This year’s competition will be staged across five host cities—Kolkata, Ranchi, Imphal, Shillong and Guwahati—bringing together top Indian clubs, Services teams, emerging sides and international participants.
Shillong’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium will host matches from July 31 to August 20, culminating in one of the tournament’s semi-finals. The Shillong leg will feature three local clubs—Shillong Lajong FC, runners-up in the Indian Football League, Meghalaya Premier League champions Nongkseh Sports, Social & Cultural Club, and Langsning FC. They will be joined by Mumbay FC from Maharashtra, making for an exciting mix of local and inter-state competition.
The tournament will feature seven debutant teams, including Nongkseh SS&CC, Meghalaya’s representative, and Defenders FC of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces, marking the continued expansion of Asia’s oldest football tournament.
Kolkata, the home of the Durand Cup since 2019, will host two league groups, the opening match, two quarter-finals, one semi-final and the final. The city’s lineup includes football giants Mohun Bagan Super Giant, East Bengal FC, Mohammedan SC, South United FC, CISF Football Team, Indian Army Football Team, Baghpat FC and Samaleswari Sporting.
Ranchi will make its debut as a Durand Cup host, staging league matches and one quarter-final, while Imphal will host another quarter-final featuring local clubs TRAU FC and NEROCA FC alongside Indian Navy Football Team and FC Raengdai. Guwahati will host league-stage fixtures featuring defending champions NorthEast United FC, FC1, Bodoland FC, and Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC.
According to the organisers, the four quarter-finals will be played across Kolkata, Ranchi and Shillong, while Shillong and Kolkata will each host one semi-final before the championship concludes in Kolkata on August 23.
Organised by the Indian Army on behalf of the three Services, the Durand Cup is recognised as Asia’s oldest and the world’s third-oldest football tournament, continuing a legacy of more than 138 years in Indian football.
