Kolkata : Asia’s oldest tournament, Durand Cup is set to kick start on July 23, 2025 , marking it’s 134th edition. In major turn of events, Malaysian Army has officially replaced Indonesian army after the later pulled out.
The opening match of Durand Cup 2025 will be played between East Bengal and South United. Several ISL clubs like Kerala Blasters, FC Goa, Mumbai City FC, Chennaiyin FC, Hyderabad FC, Bengaluru FC opted out of Durand Cup 2025 due to uncertainty over ISL 2025-26 season and conflict between AIFF and FSDL over MRA issues.
Indonesian army was set to participate in Durand Cup 2025 after Indian Army held talks with them along with other South Asian Army teams like Nepal, Bhutan, Malaysia.
However, they opted out in last minute, thereby, withdrawing from the tournament. Malaysia Army therefore replaced them in the tournament. They’re drawn in Group E with Shillong Lajong, Rangdajied United and NorthEast United FC and will play its group stage games at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong.
Meanwhile, the Tribhuwan Army (from Nepal) is drawn in Group C with Jamshedpur FC, 1 Ladakh FC and the Indian Army Football Team. Its group stage games will be played at the JRD Tata Sports Complex in Jamshedpur.
It will be the third consecutive time for the Nepalese Army team in the tournament. However, it has not progressed beyond the group stage yet.
