{"id":120235,"date":"2026-08-20T17:54:50","date_gmt":"2026-08-20T12:24:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=120235"},"modified":"2026-08-20T17:54:50","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T12:24:50","slug":"durand-cup-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/durand-cup-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Durand Cup 2026, History, Teams, Venues &#038; Key Highlights"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>Durand Cup 2026<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the 135th edition of one of India\u2019s most historic football tournaments. Founded in <\/span><b>1888<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 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 <\/span><b>Indian Armed Forces<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, historic trophies and growing reach across different states make it an important part of India\u2019s sporting heritage.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Durand Cup 2026 Latest News<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>East Bengal FC have reached the final of the Durand Cup 2026<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> after defeating <\/span><b>Sporting Club Delhi 5-3 on penalties<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> following a goalless draw in the first semi-final. East Bengal will now await the winner of <\/span><b>Mohun Bagan Super Giant vs NorthEast United FC<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for the title clash.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The second semi-final of the <\/span><b>Durand Cup 2026<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is being played on <\/span><b>20 August 2026<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in Shillong, where <\/span><b>defending champions NorthEast United FC<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> face <\/span><b>17-time winners Mohun Bagan Super Giant<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The winner will meet East Bengal in the final on <\/span><b>23 August<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>135th Durand Cup 2026<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has featured <\/span><b>24 teams<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> across six groups, with the tournament continuing until the final on <\/span><b>23 August 2026<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>About Durand Cup 2026<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>Durand Cup<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was founded in <\/span><b>1888<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by <\/span><b>Sir Henry Mortimer Durand<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> at Annadale in <\/span><b>Shimla<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. It was initially started to encourage physical fitness, discipline and sportsmanship among British Indian troops.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The tournament is recognised as <\/span><b>Asia\u2019s oldest football tournament<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and the <\/span><b>world\u2019s third-oldest surviving football competition<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. More than a century later, it continues to hold an important place in Indian football.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The competition was initially associated mainly with military teams, but its participation gradually expanded. In <\/span><b>1925<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, civilian clubs were allowed to enter the tournament, with <\/span><b>Mohun Bagan<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> becoming the first civilian team to participate.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In <\/span><b>1940<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the tournament shifted from Shimla to <\/span><b>New Delhi<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The same year, <\/span><b>Mohammedan Sporting Club<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> became the <\/span><b>first civilian team to win the Durand Cup<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, marking an important stage in the tournament\u2019s development.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since <\/span><b>1950<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the tournament has been conducted as an initiative of the <\/span><b>Indian Armed Forces<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> through the <\/span><b>Durand Football Tournament Society<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, with the Army, Navy and Air Force playing an important role in its organisation.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>History and Evolution of the Durand Cup<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The history of the <\/span><b>Durand Cup<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 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.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In <\/span><b>1956<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><b>Dr. Rajendra Prasad<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the first <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/president-of-india\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>President of India<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, introduced the <\/span><b>President\u2019s Cup<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This added a new ceremonial and national dimension to the tournament\u2019s tradition.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The tournament went through several changes in its hosting arrangements. It shifted to <\/span><b>Goa in 2014<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, returned to <\/span><b>Delhi in 2016<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and moved to <\/span><b>West Bengal in 2019<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> under the Eastern Command.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>2019 edition<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> marked another major milestone as <\/span><b>ISL clubs participated in the tournament for the first time<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This helped bring different levels of Indian football together and strengthened the tournament\u2019s role within the national football structure.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In <\/span><b>2021<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the Durand Cup received recognition in the <\/span><b>AIFF Annual Calendar<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as the official season opener. The tournament subsequently expanded beyond West Bengal, with <\/span><b>Assam and Manipur<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> added in 2022 and <\/span><b>Jharkhand and Shillong<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> added in 2024.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In <\/span><b>2025<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the tournament was held across <\/span><b>five states for the first time<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The President of India also presented the <\/span><b>President\u2019s Cup<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to the champions at Rashtrapati Bhavan.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Durand Cup Trophies and Significance<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A unique feature of the <\/span><b>Durand Cup<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is that the winning team receives <\/span><b>three prestigious trophies<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. These trophies represent different stages of the tournament\u2019s long history and add to its distinctive identity.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>Durand Cup<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the original trophy of the competition and dates back to its beginning in <\/span><b>1888<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. It remains one of the most recognisable symbols of the tournament.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>Shimla Trophy<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was presented by the residents of Shimla in <\/span><b>1905<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. It represents the tournament\u2019s early connection with its place of origin.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>President\u2019s Cup<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was introduced in <\/span><b>1956<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/dr-rajendra-prasad\/\" target=\"_blank\"><b>Dr. Rajendra Prasad<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. It is awarded as a <\/span><b>permanent keepsake<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to the winning team, while the other two trophies are treated as rolling honours.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another important feature of the tournament is its ability to bring together teams from the <\/span><b>Indian Super League, I-League and Armed Forces<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This helps connect different levels of the Indian football pyramid through a single historic competition.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Durand Cup 2026 Teams, Venues and Key Highlights<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>Durand Cup 2026<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the <\/span><b>135th edition<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of the tournament and is being held from <\/span><b>25 July to 23 August 2026<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. It continues the tradition of serving as the official season opener of Indian football.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>Durand Cup 2026<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is being played across <\/span><b>five states<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; <\/span><b>West Bengal, Jharkhand, Assam, Meghalaya and Manipur<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The major host cities are <\/span><b>Kolkata, Ranchi, Guwahati, Shillong and Imphal<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The tournament features <\/span><b>24 teams<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, including a team representing the <\/span><b>Sri Lankan Armed Forces<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, with <\/span><b>43 matches<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> being played across <\/span><b>six venues<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>Kolkata Derby between East Bengal FC and Mohun Bagan Super Giant<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> marked the beginning of the tournament, highlighting the strong football culture and historic rivalries associated with the competition.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The opening ceremony of the <\/span><b>Durand Cup 2026<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> showcased <\/span><b>Indian martial traditions and West Bengal\u2019s cultural heritage<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. A helicopter flypast carrying the <\/span><b><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/national-flag-of-india\/\" target=\"_blank\">National Flag<\/a> and Durand Cup Flag<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was also part of the ceremony.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With its wider geographical reach and participation from clubs belonging to different football competitions, the <\/span><b>Durand Cup 2026<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> reflects how a tournament founded more than 135 years ago continues to adapt to the changing landscape of Indian football.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The tournament therefore represents more than a football competition. It combines <\/span><b>sporting tradition, military heritage, regional football culture and national sporting identity<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, making the Durand Cup an enduring part of India\u2019s football history.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Durand Cup 2026 is the 135th edition of India\u2019s historic football tournament, featuring 24 teams across five states and celebrating its rich sporting and military heritage.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":120206,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[786],"tags":[9673,9672,8672],"class_list":["post-120235","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-general-studies","tag-durand-cup","tag-durand-cup-2026","tag-sports-cups-and-trophies","no-featured-image-padding"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/120235","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=120235"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/120235\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":120243,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/120235\/revisions\/120243"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/120206"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=120235"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=120235"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=120235"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}