The countdown to the 135th Durand Cup has officially begun after the Durand Cup Organising Committee confirmed the 24 participating teams and their group allocations for this year’s tournament.

Scheduled to run from July 25 to August 23, the competition will once again be played across five host cities -Kolkata, Ranchi, Imphal, Shillong and Guwahati. Ranchi makes its debut as host while the northeast cities continue to host matches this year as well.

Kolkata, the home of the Durand Cup since 2019, will remain the focal point of the tournament. The City of Joy will host the opening match, two group-stage pools, two quarter-finals, one semi-final and the final at the iconic Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan. Meanwhile, Ranchi, Imphal, Shillong and Guwahati will each stage one group during the league phase, with Ranchi, Imphal and Shillong also hosting knockout fixtures.

This year’s edition also continues the tournament’s tradition of providing a national platform to promising clubs from across the country. Alongside Indian football’s biggest names are debutants such as Baghpat FC, Defenders FC from Sri Lanka, FC Raengdai and Mumbay FC, ensuring a competitive blend of established powerhouses and ambitious newcomers.

Durand Cup 2026 Groups and Teams

Group A (Kolkata)

Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Mohammedan SC, South United FC, CISF Football Team.

Group B (Kolkata)

East Bengal FC, Indian Army Football Team, Baghpat FC, Samaleswari Sporting.

Group C (Ranchi)

Jamshedpur FC, Sporting Club Delhi, Indian Air Force Football Team, Defenders FC (Sri Lanka).

Group D (Imphal)

TRAU FC, NEROCA FC, Indian Navy Football Team, FC Raengdai.

Group E (Shillong)

Shillong Lajong FC, Nongkseh Sports, Social & Cultural Club, Langsning FC, Mumbay FC.

Group F (Guwahati)

NorthEast United FC, FC1 (players from Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh), Bodoland FC, Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC.

Durand Cup 2026 Schedule and Venues

League-stage matches will be played between July 25 and August 20, with the knockout rounds beginning immediately after. The four quarter-finals will be hosted in Kolkata, Ranchi, Imphal and Shillong, while Shillong and Kolkata will stage one semi-final each before the competition concludes with the grand final in Kolkata on August 23.

With record champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant, arch-rivals East Bengal, defending champions NorthEast United FC and several exciting debutants all set to compete, the 135th Durand Cup promises another month of high-quality football while continuing the legacy of Asia’s oldest football tournament.