Kolkata : Asia’s oldest tournament – Durand Cup is set to kick start on 23rd July, 2025 to August 23, 2025 marking it’s 134th edition.
Last time, North East United defeated Mohun Bagan in final in a thriller penalty shootout. For the first time, Durand Cup will be hosted in 5 different cities across India.
Manipur capital Imphal will host after 2 years gap. Kokrajhar in Assam will extend their status as Durand Cup hosts for the third consecutive year while Jamshedpur in Jharkhand and Shillong in Meghalaya were added as hosts last year. The century-old tournament shifted its home base to Kolkata – the Mecca of Indian Football, and the capital of West Bengal, from Delhi back in 2019, and, will also continue to hold that status for a sixth consecutive edition.
However, with the Master Rights Agreement between the ISL organisers — FSDL — and the AIFF ending in December and the future of the league uncertain, several clubs have withdrawn from the Durand Cup.
For the 2025 edition, only six of the 13 ISL clubs — East Bengal, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Punjab FC, Jamshedpur FC, NorthEast United FC, and Mohammedan Sporting — have confirmed their participation. However, Mohun Bagan’s team selection hinges on the Supreme Court’s decision on the AIFF constitution on July 18.
Newer teams from various parts of the country will also compete in the tournament, including South United FC from Bengaluru, Ladakh FC from the Union Territory, and Diamond Harbour Football Club from West Bengal.
All three teams from the Indian Armed Forces — Army, Navy, and Air Force — will return, as will the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). The Border Security Force and the Nepal Army are also likely to join the roster.
The full lineup will feature 24 teams divided into six groups, and the world’s third-oldest football tournament will be played across West Bengal, Jharkhand, Manipur, Meghalaya, and Assam.
GROUP DISTRIBUTION –
Group A : East Bengal, South United FC, Indian Air Force FT, Namdhari FC
Group B : Mohun Bagan Super Giants, Mohammedan SC, Diamond Harbour FC, BSF FT
Group C : Jamshedpur FC, Indian Army FC, Ladakh FC, Foreign Team 1
Group D : Punjab FC, Indo Tibetan Border Police, Bodoland FC, Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC
Group E : Shillong Lajong FC, Northeast United FC, Rangdajied United FC, Foreign Team 2
Group F : TRAU FC, Neroca FC, Indian Navy FT, Real Kashmir FC.
FIXTURES –
Durand Cup 2025: Knock Out Fixtures –
Quarters:
Quarter-final 1 – 16 August (Saturday) – Kokrajhar – SAI Stadium
Quarter-final 2 – 16 August (Saturday)- Shillong – Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium
Quarter-final 3 – 17 August (Sunday) – Jamshedpur – JRD Tata Sports Complex
Quarter-final 4 – 17 August (Sunday) – Kolkata – VYBK (Salt Lake)
Semis:
Semi-final 1 – 19 August (Tuesday) – Shillong – Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium
Semi-final 2 – 20 August (Wednesday) – Kolkata – VYBK (Salt Lake)
Final – 23 August (Saturday) – Kolkata – VYBK (Salt Lake).
Where to Watch Durand Cup 2025 ?
Viewers can watch live telecast of Durand Cup 2025 in Sony Ten 2 and Sony Liv app.
