Mohun Bagan Super Giant and East Bengal FC will be up against at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan. The clash between the tournament’s two most successful clubs—17-time champions Mohun Bagan and 16-time winners East Bengal—will launch a month-long football festival that concludes with the final on August 23.

The Durand Cup Organising Committee today unveiled the complete fixture list for the 135th edition, which will feature 24 teams divided into six groups and staged across five host cities—Kolkata, Ranchi, Imphal, Shillong and Guwahati. Bringing together Indian Super League clubs, Services teams, emerging football institutions, regional champions and international participants, the tournament continues to showcase the diversity and growing reach of Indian football.

Fans across the country will be able to watch every match live on the Sony Sports Network, while live streaming will be available on the SonyLIV app.

Kolkata once again takes centre stage as the principal host, welcoming Groups A and B along with two quarter-finals, one semi-final and the final. Group A features Mohun Bagan Super Giant, East Bengal FC, South United FC and CISF Protectors. After the blockbuster opening derby on July 25, the group will conclude on August 10 with Mohun Bagan Super Giant taking on CISF Protectors.

Group B presents an intriguing mix of tradition and fresh talent, with Mohammedan SC joined by Indian Army FT and tournament debutants Baghpat FC and Samaleswari Sporting. The group opens on July 26 with Indian Army FT facing Samaleswari Sporting before wrapping up on August 12 with Mohammedan SC meeting Indian Army FT.

A major milestone for this year’s tournament is Ranchi’s debut as a Durand Cup host. The Birsa Munda Football Stadium will stage all Group C fixtures featuring Jamshedpur FC, Sporting Club Delhi, Indian Air Force FT and Sri Lanka’s Defenders FC, who will also be making their first appearance in the competition. The Ranchi leg begins on July 26 with Jamshedpur FC taking on Defenders FC and concludes on August 13 when Jamshedpur FC face Indian Air Force FT.

Imphal hosts Group D, where local rivals TRAU FC and NEROCA FC headline a strong regional line-up alongside FC Raengdai and Indian Navy FT. The competition in Manipur begins with a highly anticipated TRAU-NEROCA derby on July 28 and ends on August 12 with NEROCA FC facing FC Raengdai.

Shillong’s footballing culture will be on full display in Group E, which features three Meghalaya clubs competing on home turf. Shillong Lajong FC, Langsning FC and Meghalaya Premier League champions Nongkseh SS&CC will be joined by Durand Cup newcomers Mumbay FC from Maharashtra. The Shillong leg kicks off on July 31 with Shillong Lajong FC taking on Nongkseh SS&CC, while the eagerly awaited Shillong derby between Shillong Lajong FC and Langsning FC will bring the group stage to a close on August 13.

Defending champions NorthEast United FC headline Group F in Guwahati as they chase an unprecedented third consecutive Durand Cup title. They are joined by Bodoland FC, FC1 and Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC, highlighting the continued rise of football across the Northeast. The Guwahati leg opens on August 1 with NorthEast United FC facing Bodoland FC before concluding on August 13.

Following the group stage, the six group winners and the two best second-placed teams will qualify for the knockout rounds. The quarter-finals will be played on August 16 and 17 across Ranchi, Kolkata and Shillong. Kolkata will host the first semi-final on August 19, while Shillong stages the second on August 20. The tournament reaches its climax with the grand final at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on August 23.

With the fixtures now confirmed, the countdown has officially begun for another memorable edition of Asia’s oldest football tournament. From historic rivalries and regional derbies to emerging clubs seeking national recognition, the 135th IndianOil Durand Cup promises four weeks of compelling football and unforgettable moments as teams battle for one of Indian football’s most coveted honours.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for all the latest happenings in the world of Indian Football.

The post 135th IndianOil Durand Cup Set for Grand Kick-off with Iconic Kolkata Derby appeared first on Football Counter.

This year’s edition will feature 24 teams, including two international clubs, who will compete across five host cities in a month-long battle for one of Indian football’s most prestigious trophies. Defending champions NorthEast United FC will return to defend the title they claimed last season against some of the country’s strongest clubs and Services teams.

For the first time in the tournament’s history, Ranchi will join Kolkata, Guwahati, Imphal, and Shillong as a host city, further expanding the competition’s footprint across India. Matches will be played at six venues: Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan and Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata, Birsa Munda Stadium in Ranchi, Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati, Khuman Lampak Stadium in Imphal, and Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong.

For more than a century, the Durand Cup has been far more than just a football tournament. It has served as a platform where generations of players have showcased their talent, earned recognition, and taken the next step in their careers. From established clubs to Services teams and emerging sides, the competition continues to provide invaluable opportunities for players to test themselves against high-quality opposition.

Since shifting its base to eastern India in 2019, the tournament has witnessed remarkable growth. Expanding from a 16-team competition to its current 24-team format, the Durand Cup has strengthened its position as one of the premier events on the Indian football calendar while continuing to attract top clubs, Services teams, and international participants.

Organised by the Eastern Command of the Indian Army on behalf of the three Services, the tournament remains unique in Indian football by bringing together military teams and professional clubs under one competition. The inclusion of foreign teams in recent editions has further enhanced the tournament’s competitiveness and international appeal.

Once again, the 2026 edition promises a blend of tradition, quality, and opportunity. Alongside some of India’s biggest football clubs, emerging teams and talented young players will have the chance to make their mark on one of the country’s grandest stages.

Details regarding the participating clubs, group stage draw, fixtures, and knockout schedule will be announced in the coming weeks. The tournament will conclude on August 23, when one team will lift the historic Durand Cup trophy and etch its name into the rich legacy of a competition that has shaped Indian football for nearly a century and a half.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for all the latest happenings in the world of Indian Football.

The post Durand Cup 2026 Set to Return from July 25 to August 23 appeared first on Football Counter.