The Durand Cup Organising Committee unveiled the full fixture list for the 135th IndianOil Durand Cup on 4 July 2025, confirming that the tournament will kick off on 25 July with a blockbuster Kolkata derby between record 17-time champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant and 16-time winners East Bengal FC at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan. The tournament runs through 23 August across five host cities and features 24 teams divided into six groups.

Group Stage: Six Cities, Six Groups

Kolkata anchors the competition, hosting Groups A and B, the opening fixture, two quarter-finals, the first semi-final, and the final. Group A pairs Mohun Bagan Super Giant and East Bengal FC with South United FC and CISF Protectors, concluding on 10 August when Mohun Bagan face CISF Protectors. Group B brings together Mohammedan SC, Indian Army FT, and debutants Baghpat FC and Samaleswari Sporting, opening on 26 July and closing on 12 August with a Mohammedan SC versus Indian Army FT clash.

Ranchi makes its debut as a Durand Cup host, staging all Group C fixtures at the Birsa Munda Football Stadium. The group features Jamshedpur FC, Sporting Club Delhi, Indian Air Force FT, and Sri Lankan armed forces side Defenders FC — making their first appearance in the competition. Ranchi's campaign opens on 26 July with Jamshedpur FC against Defenders FC and concludes on 13 August.

Imphal hosts Group D, featuring a Manipur derby on 28 July between TRAU FC and NEROCA FC, alongside FC Raengdai and Indian Navy FT. Shillong hosts Group E, showcasing Meghalaya's club football depth through Shillong Lajong FC, Langsning FC, Nongkseh SS&CC (Meghalaya Premier League champions), and Maharashtra debutants Mumbay FC. The Shillong leg opens on 31 July and concludes on 13 August with the Shillong derby between Lajong and Langsning.

Guwahati hosts Group F, headlined by back-to-back defending champions NorthEast United FC, who open their bid for a third consecutive title on 1 August against Bodoland FC. They are joined by FC1 and Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC.

Knockout Stage Schedule

The six group winners and the two best second-placed teams advance to the quarter-finals, which begin on 16 August in Ranchi and Kolkata, with the remaining two quarter-finals on 17 August in Kolkata and Shillong. The first semi-final is set for 19 August at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, while Shillong's Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium hosts the second semi-final on 20 August. The final returns to Kolkata on 23 August.

Broadcast and Streaming

All matches will be telecast live on the Sony Sports Network, with live streaming available on the SonyLIV app.

Tournament's Historic Significance

The Durand Cup is Asia's oldest and the world's third-oldest football tournament, with its inaugural edition held in Shimla in 1888. Organised by the Indian Army on behalf of the three Services, it moved to New Delhi in 1940 before coming under the aegis of the Army's Eastern Command in 2019, when it relocated to Kolkata. Champions receive three trophies: the Durand Cup, the Shimla Trophy (both rolling honours), and the President's Cup, which is crafted afresh each year. The Organising Committee noted that the 135th edition 'reflects the tournament's expanding national footprint while remaining firmly rooted in the football heartlands of eastern and northeastern India.'

With Ranchi entering the fold and international representation from Sri Lanka, the 135th edition marks another step in the tournament's evolution from a single-city event into a multi-state spectacle — with the grand final set to light up Kolkata on 23 August.