Durand Cup 2026, History, Teams, Venues & Key Highlights

The Durand Cup 2026 is the 135th edition of one of India’s most historic football tournaments. Founded in 1888, the competition has grown from a military football tournament into a major national event involving clubs from different levels of Indian football. Its long association with the Indian Armed Forces, historic trophies and growing reach across different states make it an important part of India’s sporting heritage. 

Durand Cup 2026 Latest News

• East Bengal FC have reached the final of the Durand Cup 2026 after defeating Sporting Club Delhi 5-3 on penalties following a goalless draw in the first semi-final. East Bengal will now await the winner of Mohun Bagan Super Giant vs NorthEast United FC for the title clash.
• The second semi-final of the Durand Cup 2026 is being played on 20 August 2026 in Shillong, where defending champions NorthEast United FC face 17-time winners Mohun Bagan Super Giant. The winner will meet East Bengal in the final on 23 August.
• The 135th Durand Cup 2026 has featured 24 teams across six groups, with the tournament continuing until the final on 23 August 2026.

About Durand Cup 2026

• The Durand Cup was founded in 1888 by Sir Henry Mortimer Durand at Annadale in Shimla. It was initially started to encourage physical fitness, discipline and sportsmanship among British Indian troops.
• The tournament is recognised as Asia’s oldest football tournament and the world’s third-oldest surviving football competition. More than a century later, it continues to hold an important place in Indian football.
• The competition was initially associated mainly with military teams, but its participation gradually expanded. In 1925, civilian clubs were allowed to enter the tournament, with Mohun Bagan becoming the first civilian team to participate.
• In 1940, the tournament shifted from Shimla to New Delhi. The same year, Mohammedan Sporting Club became the first civilian team to win the Durand Cup, marking an important stage in the tournament’s development.
• Since 1950, the tournament has been conducted as an initiative of the Indian Armed Forces through the Durand Football Tournament Society, with the Army, Navy and Air Force playing an important role in its organisation.

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History and Evolution of the Durand Cup

• The history of the Durand Cup reflects the changing nature of Indian football. From its early military origins, it gradually opened its doors to civilian clubs and later became a platform connecting professional, institutional and Armed Forces teams.
• In 1956, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India, introduced the President’s Cup. This added a new ceremonial and national dimension to the tournament’s tradition.
• The tournament went through several changes in its hosting arrangements. It shifted to Goa in 2014, returned to Delhi in 2016 and moved to West Bengal in 2019 under the Eastern Command.
• The 2019 edition marked another major milestone as ISL clubs participated in the tournament for the first time. This helped bring different levels of Indian football together and strengthened the tournament’s role within the national football structure.
• In 2021, the Durand Cup received recognition in the AIFF Annual Calendar as the official season opener. The tournament subsequently expanded beyond West Bengal, with Assam and Manipur added in 2022 and Jharkhand and Shillong added in 2024.
• In 2025, the tournament was held across five states for the first time. The President of India also presented the President’s Cup to the champions at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Durand Cup Trophies and Significance

• A unique feature of the Durand Cup is that the winning team receives three prestigious trophies. These trophies represent different stages of the tournament’s long history and add to its distinctive identity.
• The Durand Cup is the original trophy of the competition and dates back to its beginning in 1888. It remains one of the most recognisable symbols of the tournament.
• The Shimla Trophy was presented by the residents of Shimla in 1905. It represents the tournament’s early connection with its place of origin.
• The President’s Cup was introduced in 1956 by Dr. Rajendra Prasad. It is awarded as a permanent keepsake to the winning team, while the other two trophies are treated as rolling honours.
• Another important feature of the tournament is its ability to bring together teams from the Indian Super League, I-League and Armed Forces. This helps connect different levels of the Indian football pyramid through a single historic competition.

Durand Cup 2026 Teams, Venues and Key Highlights

• The Durand Cup 2026 is the 135th edition of the tournament and is being held from 25 July to 23 August 2026. It continues the tradition of serving as the official season opener of Indian football.
• The Durand Cup 2026 is being played across five states – West Bengal, Jharkhand, Assam, Meghalaya and Manipur. The major host cities are Kolkata, Ranchi, Guwahati, Shillong and Imphal.
• The tournament features 24 teams, including a team representing the Sri Lankan Armed Forces, with 43 matches being played across six venues.
• The Kolkata Derby between East Bengal FC and Mohun Bagan Super Giant marked the beginning of the tournament, highlighting the strong football culture and historic rivalries associated with the competition.
• The opening ceremony of the Durand Cup 2026 showcased Indian martial traditions and West Bengal’s cultural heritage. A helicopter flypast carrying the National Flag and Durand Cup Flag was also part of the ceremony.
• With its wider geographical reach and participation from clubs belonging to different football competitions, the Durand Cup 2026 reflects how a tournament founded more than 135 years ago continues to adapt to the changing landscape of Indian football.
• The tournament therefore represents more than a football competition. It combines sporting tradition, military heritage, regional football culture and national sporting identity, making the Durand Cup an enduring part of India’s football history.