Durand Cup 2026 to Kick Off on Saturday with Kolkata Derby Opener
The 135th edition of the Durand Cup, Asia's oldest football tournament, is set to begin on Saturday. Tournament organisers unveiled the competition's details at a press conference in Kolkata on Wednesday, following the conclusion of the trophy tour on Tuesday.
xtra Time Web Desk
The 135th edition of the Durand Cup, Asia's oldest football tournament, is set to begin on Saturday. Tournament organisers unveiled the competition's details at a press conference in Kolkata on Wednesday, following the conclusion of the trophy tour on Tuesday.
West Bengal Sports Minister Dr. Indranil Khan and senior officials from the Indian Army, one of the tournament's organisers, were present at the event.
The tournament will get underway with the biggest fixture in Indian football as Mohun Bagan take on East Bengal in the opening match on July 25 at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium). The Kolkata derby is expected to set the tone for what promises to be another exciting edition of the competition.
Kolkata will host the matches of Groups A and B, with fixtures scheduled at the Salt Lake Stadium and Kishore Bharati Krirangan. Mohammedan Sporting will also play its group-stage matches in Kolkata.
Apart from Kolkata, the tournament will be held across four additional venues—Ranchi, Guwahati, Imphal, and Shillong. Ranchi will host Durand Cup matches for the first time. The final is scheduled to be played on August 23 at the Salt Lake Stadium.
A total of 24 teams, including two foreign clubs, will compete in this year's tournament. Besides Kolkata's traditional giants, Jamshedpur FC, NorthEast United FC, and Sporting Club Delhi are among the participating Indian Super League sides. Teams from the Indian Armed Forces and various clubs from the Indian football league system will also be in action.
The 24 teams have been divided into six groups. The group stage will run from July 25 to August 12, with the six group winners and the two best second-placed teams advancing to the quarter-finals, which begin on August 16. The semi-finals are scheduled for August 19 and 20, before the tournament concludes with the final on August 23 in Kolkata.
Excitement continues to build around the historic tournament, with anticipation already reaching fever pitch ahead of the opening Kolkata derby. The countdown to kick-off has well and truly begun.
