The much-anticipated 134th edition of the Durand Cup, Asia’s oldest and most prestigious football tournament, kicked off on Sunday, July 27, at the SAI Stadium in Kokrajhar, Assam. Known for its rich history and legacy since 1888, the Durand Cup is more than just a football competition—it’s a celebration of sportsmanship, heritage, and unity.
This marks the third consecutive year that the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) has had the honour of hosting the tournament. The event is being jointly organized by the Indian Army and the BTR government, whose collaboration has once again brought top-tier football action to the heart of Northeast India.
The opening ceremony was a colourful and high-energy affair, drawing a packed crowd from all corners of the region. The stadium came alive with vibrant traditional performances that showcased the diverse cultural identity of Bodoland. Music, dance, and cheers set the tone for what promises to be an exciting tournament.
Adding star power to the occasion was none other than Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri. The former national team captain and one of India’s most beloved sporting icons was present as the guest of honour. Chhetri’s presence electrified the stadium, as he interacted warmly with fans, kicked off the tournament with a ceremonial shot, and tossed footballs into the cheering crowd, creating unforgettable memories for young and old alike.
While Kokrajhar lit up with the festivities, the main draw of the Durand Cup 2025 officially began in Kolkata on Wednesday, with East Bengal FC making a commanding statement by defeating South United FC 5-0 at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan. This emphatic victory marks the traditional opening of the Indian domestic football season.
The format of the 2025 Durand Cup includes 24 teams divided into six groups, with each group comprising four teams. These teams will play in a single round-robin format. The top team from each group and the two best-performing second-placed teams will advance to the quarterfinals.
Durand Cup 2025 Groups:
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Group A: East Bengal FC, Indian Air Force FT, Namdhari FC, South United FC
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Group B: Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Mohammedan SC, Diamond Harbour FC, Border Security Force FT
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Group C: Jamshedpur FC, Tribhuvan Army FT, Indian Army FT, 1 Ladakh FC
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Group D: Punjab FC, ITBP FT, Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC, Bodoland FC
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Group E: Shillong Lajong FC, NorthEast United FC, Malaysian Armed Forces, Rangdajied United FC
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Group F: TRAU FC, NEROCA FC, Real Kashmir FC, Indian Navy FT
Durand Cup Match Schedule
| Date | Match | Group | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 23, Wed | East Bengal FC 5–0 South United FC | A | Kolkata |
| July 24, Thu | Jamshedpur FC 3–2 Tribhuvan Army FT | C | Jamshedpur |
| July 26, Sat | Shillong Lajong 6–0 Malaysian Armed Forces | E | Shillong |
| July 27, Sun | ITBP FT 2–1 Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC | D | Kokrajhar |
| July 27, Sun | Indian Air Force FT 3–3 South United FC | A | Kolkata |
| July 28, Mon | Mohammedan SC vs Diamond Harbour FC | B | Kolkata |
| July 29, Tue | Jamshedpur FC vs Indian Army FT | C | Jamshedpur |
| July 29, Tue | Shillong Lajong vs Rangdajied United FC | E | Shillong |
| July 30, Wed | TRAU FC vs NEROCA FC | F | Imphal |
| July 30, Wed | Namdhari FC vs South United FC | A | Kolkata |
| July 31, Thu | Mohun Bagan SG vs Mohammedan SC | B | Kolkata |
| July 31, Thu | Bodoland FC vs Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC | D | Kokrajhar |
| Aug 1, Fri | Indian Navy FT vs Real Kashmir FC | F | Imphal |
| Aug 1, Fri | Diamond Harbour FC vs BSF FT | B | Kolkata |
| Aug 2, Sat | Tribhuvan Army FT vs 1 Ladakh FC | C | Jamshedpur |
| Aug 2, Sat | NorthEast United FC vs Malaysian Armed Forces | E | Shillong |
| Aug 3, Sun | Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC vs Punjab FC | D | Kokrajhar |
| Aug 3, Sun | Namdhari FC vs Indian Air Force FT | A | Kolkata |
| Aug 4, Mon | TRAU FC vs Real Kashmir FC | F | Imphal |
| Aug 4, Mon | Mohun Bagan SG vs BSF FT | B | Kolkata |
| Aug 5, Tue | Rangdajied United FC vs Malaysian Armed Forces | E | Shillong |
| Aug 5, Tue | Indian Army FT vs Tribhuvan Army FT | C | Jamshedpur |
| Aug 6, Wed | ITBP FT vs Punjab FC | D | Kokrajhar |
| Aug 6, Wed | East Bengal FC vs Namdhari FC | A | Kolkata |
| Aug 7, Thu | BSF FT vs Mohammedan SC | B | Kolkata |
| Aug 7, Thu | NEROCA FC vs Indian Navy FT | F | Imphal |
| Aug 8, Fri | Jamshedpur FC vs 1 Ladakh FC | C | Jamshedpur |
| Aug 8, Fri | Shillong Lajong FC vs NorthEast United FC | E | Shillong |
| Aug 9, Sat | Bodoland FC vs Punjab FC | D | Kokrajhar |
| Aug 9, Sat | Diamond Harbour FC vs Mohun Bagan SG | B | Kolkata |
| Aug 10, Sun | NEROCA FC vs Real Kashmir FC | F | Imphal |
| Aug 10, Sun | East Bengal FC vs Indian Air Force FT | A | Kolkata |
| Aug 11, Mon | Indian Army FT vs 1 Ladakh FC | C | Jamshedpur |
| Aug 11, Mon | NorthEast United FC vs Rangdajied United FC | E | Shillong |
| Aug 12, Tue | TRAU FC vs Indian Navy FT | F | Imphal |
| Aug 12, Tue | Bodoland FC vs ITBP FT | D | Kokrajhar |
| Aug 16, Sat | Quarter-final 1: TBD vs TBD | QF | TBD |
| Aug 16, Sat | Quarter-final 2: TBD vs TBD | QF | TBD |
| Aug 17, Sun | Quarter-final 3: TBD vs TBD | QF | TBD |
| Aug 17, Sun | Quarter-final 4: TBD vs TBD | QF | TBD |
| Aug 19, Tue | Semi-final 1: Winner QF1 vs Winner QF2 | SF | TBD |
| Aug 20, Wed | Semi-final 2: Winner QF3 vs Winner QF4 | SF | TBD |
| Aug 23, Sat | Final: Winner SF1 vs Winner SF2 | F | TBD |
