The fixtures for the 135th edition of the Durand Cup have been officially announced, with the tournament set to begin on July 25 and conclude with the final on August 23. The opening match will feature one of Indian football’s most iconic rivalries as Mohun Bagan Super Giant take on East Bengal FC at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata.
The 2026 edition of Asia’s oldest football tournament will feature 24 teams divided into six groups, with matches being played across Kolkata, Ranchi, Imphal, Shillong and Guwahati. The competition will bring together Indian Super League clubs, I-League teams, Services sides, regional outfits and international participants.
Durand Cup 2026 Live Streaming and Telecast
The tournament will be broadcast live on the Sony Sports Network, while fans can also watch the matches via live streaming on the SonyLIV app.
Kolkata will once again play a central role in the tournament, hosting Groups A and B, the opening match, two quarter-finals, the first semi-final and the final.
Group A
Group A consists of Mohun Bagan Super Giant, East Bengal FC, South United FC and CISF Protectors.
The tournament opener on July 25 will see Mohun Bagan face East Bengal in the latest edition of the Kolkata Derby. Group A fixtures will conclude on August 10 with Mohun Bagan taking on CISF Protectors.
Group B
Group B features Mohammedan SC, Indian Army FT, Baghpat FC and Samaleswari Sporting.
The group begins on July 26 with Indian Army FT facing Samaleswari Sporting, while the final group fixture will be played on August 12, when Mohammedan SC meet Indian Army FT.
Group C
Ranchi will host Durand Cup matches for the first time, with all Group C fixtures taking place at the Birsa Munda Football Stadium.
The group includes Jamshedpur FC, Sporting Club Delhi, Indian Air Force FT and Sri Lanka’s Defenders FC. Jamshedpur FC will face Defenders FC in the opening match on July 26, while the group concludes on August 13 with Jamshedpur taking on Indian Air Force FT.
Group D
Group D will be staged in Imphal and comprises TRAU FC, NEROCA FC, FC Raengdai and Indian Navy FT.
The opening fixture on July 28 features a Manipur derby between TRAU FC and NEROCA FC. The final group match will also be an all-Manipur affair, with NEROCA FC taking on FC Raengdai on August 12.
Group E
Shillong will host Group E, featuring Shillong Lajong FC, Langsning FC, Nongkseh SS&CC and Mumbay FC.
The group begins on July 31 with Shillong Lajong taking on Nongkseh SS&CC. The final fixture on August 13 will see Shillong Lajong face Langsning FC in a local derby.
Group F
Defending champions NorthEast United FC headline Group F alongside Bodoland FC, FC1 and Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC.
The Guwahati leg starts on August 1, with NorthEast United taking on Bodoland FC. The final Group F fixture will be played on August 13 between Bodoland FC and Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC.
Knockout Schedule
The six group winners and the two best second-placed teams will qualify for the knockout stage.
The quarter-finals are scheduled for August 16 and 17, with matches to be played in Ranchi, Kolkata and Shillong.
The first semi-final will be held in Kolkata on August 19, while Shillong will host the second semi-final on August 20.
The 135th Durand Cup will conclude with the final at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on August 23
Story first published: Friday, July 3, 2026, 20:11 [IST]
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