Durand Cup 2025: Kolkata Derby opens 135th edition on July 25
Synopsis
The 135th IndianOil Durand Cup opens with the Kolkata Derby on 25 July — Mohun Bagan Super Giant vs East Bengal FC, a fixture that encapsulates everything Indian club football stands for. With Ranchi debuting as a host city, a Sri Lankan side entering for the first time, and NorthEast United chasing a historic third straight title, this edition is the most geographically and competitively expansive in recent memory.
Key Takeaways
The 135th IndianOil Durand Cup runs from 25 July to 23 August 2025 across five cities .
Mohun Bagan Super Giant (17-time champions) face East Bengal FC (16-time winners) in the opening match on 25 July in Kolkata.
Ranchi makes its debut as a Durand Cup host at the Birsa Munda Football Stadium .
Defenders FC of the Sri Lankan armed forces make their first-ever appearance in the tournament.
Back-to-back champions NorthEast United FC target a third straight Durand Cup title from Group F in Guwahati.
A total of 24 teams across six groups compete, with the final staged at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan , Kolkata.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant and East Bengal FC will renew one of Indian football's most storied rivalries to kick off the 135th IndianOil Durand Cup on 25 July 2025 at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata. The Durand Cup Organising Committee confirmed the full fixture list on 3 July, setting up a month-long tournament spanning 24 teams, six groups, and five host cities — running through to the final on 23 August 2025.
The Kolkata Derby: A Blockbuster Curtain-Raiser
Record 17-time champion Mohun Bagan Super Giant face 16-time winner East Bengal FC in the tournament opener — a fixture that needs no additional billing in Indian football. Group A, hosted in Kolkata, also features South United FC and CISF Protectors, with the group stage wrapping up on 10 August when Mohun Bagan Super Giant take on CISF Protectors.
Group B brings together Mohammedan SC, Indian Army FT, and Durand Cup debutants Baghpat FC and Samaleswari Sporting. The group opens on 26 July with Indian Army FT facing Samaleswari Sporting and concludes on 12 August with a Mohammedan SC vs Indian Army FT clash.
New Hosts, Debutants, and Regional Flavour
Ranchi makes its debut as a Durand Cup host city, staging all Group C fixtures at the Birsa Munda Football Stadium. The group features Indian Super League (ISL) sides Jamshedpur FC and Sporting Club Delhi, alongside Indian Air Force FT and Defenders FC — the Sri Lankan armed forces side making their first appearance in the competition. Ranchi's campaign begins on 26 July and concludes on 13 August.
Imphal hosts Group D, where a Manipur derby between TRAU FC and NEROCA FC on 28 July headlines proceedings. They are joined by FC Raengdai and Indian Navy FT. Shillong hosts Group E, showcasing three local clubs — Shillong Lajong FC, Langsning FC, and Meghalaya Premier League champions Nongkseh SS&CC — alongside debutants Mumbay FC from Maharashtra. The Shillong leg runs from 31 July to 13 August, closing with a local derby between Shillong Lajong FC and Langsning FC.
NorthEast United Eye Historic Third Straight Title
Back-to-back defending champions NorthEast United FC headline Group F in Guwahati, chasing a third consecutive Durand Cup title. They open against Bodoland FC on 1 August and are joined by FC1 and Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC, reflecting the deepening football culture across the Northeast.
Knockout Stage and Final
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 played on 17 August in Kolkata and Shillong. The first semi-final takes place at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on 19 August, with the second at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong on 20 August. The final returns to Kolkata's iconic stadium on 23 August 2025.
Asia's oldest football tournament has steadily expanded its geographic reach since returning to Kolkata in 2019, and the 135th edition — with a Sri Lankan armed forces side and multiple Northeast clubs in contention — underlines how the Durand Cup has grown well beyond its traditional base.
Point of View
But the more significant story is structural expansion. Adding Ranchi as a host and bringing in a Sri Lankan armed forces side signals that the tournament is genuinely testing its national and subcontinental ambitions — not just rotating the same northeastern cities. The real pressure, though, falls on NorthEast United: a third consecutive title would cement a dynasty in a competition that has historically resisted repeat winners. Whether the expanded format dilutes the knockout intensity or sharpens it will define how the 135th edition is remembered.
NationPress
3 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the 135th Durand Cup start and end?
The 135th IndianOil Durand Cup begins on 25 July 2025 with the Kolkata Derby and concludes with the final at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on 23 August 2025.
Which teams are playing in the opening match of Durand Cup 2025?
Record 17-time champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant face 16-time winners East Bengal FC in the tournament opener on 25 July 2025 at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata.
How many teams and cities are part of Durand Cup 2025?
The 135th edition features 24 teams divided into six groups across five host cities: Kolkata, Ranchi, Imphal, Shillong, and Guwahati. Ranchi is making its debut as a Durand Cup host.
Who are the defending champions of the Durand Cup?
NorthEast United FC are the back-to-back defending champions, having won the previous two editions. They are competing in Group F in Guwahati and are chasing a historic third consecutive Durand Cup title.
What is the Durand Cup and why is it significant?
The Durand Cup is Asia's oldest football tournament, first held in 1888. The 135th edition continues a tradition spanning well over a century, making it one of the most historic club football competitions on the continent.
