Durand Cup 2022: Kerala Blasters, Odisha clubbed together; ATKMB, EB in same group

A total of 20 teams will take part in the competition this year.

ATK Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, who mark a return to the Durand Cup after a two-year gap, have been clubbed together in Group B for the 131st edition of Asia's oldest tournament. Both will also kick off Durand Cup 2022 with the Kolkata derby on August 16. The tournament features 20 teams and will run until September 18.

The derby clash will also be the first Kolkata Derby in the City of Joy since January 19, 2020. Group B also features former ISL champions Mumbai City FC, I-League outfit Rajasthan United and Indian Navy.

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All matches of Group B will take place in Kolkata, as will be the matches of Group A which has three ISL winners in Bengaluru FC, Jamshedpur FC and FC Goa. I-League heavyweights Mohammedan SC and Indian Air Force are the other teams in Group A.

Kerala Blasters, Odisha FC, and NorthEast United are in Group D alongside Sudeva Delhi and Army Green. Hyderabad FC, Chennaiyin FC, TRAU, NEROCA and Army Red make Group C.

A total of 20 teams are participating in the tournament this time, including a record 11 Indian Super League teams for the first time ever. Defending champions FC Goa are among them. Five clubs from the I-League and four Indian Army sides complete the remaining teams. Clubs have been divided into four groups of five teams each.

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In another first, the Durand Cup will take place across three cities — Kolkata, Imphal and Guwahati — this year. Salt Lake Stadium, Naihati Stadium and Kishore Bharati Stadium will host the matches in Kolkata. While the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium and the Khuman Lampak Stadium will host the matches in Guwahati and Imphal respectively.

The Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK) will play host to 10 matches, including the opening Kolkata Derby as well as all the knockout games and the final on September 18. Guwahati and Imphal which will host Group C and Group D respectively, will hold 10 games each.

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