Durand Cup 2026: All teams' qualification scenario
Mohun Bagan, SC Delhi & FC Raengdai have qualified for the next round
The group stage games are still there in the 135th edition of the Durand Cup 2026 as the knockout round approaches faster for all 24 teams, many sides are in the race to put their heart out and are looking to secure their qualification for the quarter-finals of the prestigious tournament.
On 13th August 2026, the group stage games in the Durand Cup will be all finalised, and from 16th August the knockout stage games will be the centre of attraction for all Indian football fans, and before that, Mohun Bagan SG from Group A, SC Delhi from Group C and FC Raengdai from Group D have secured their qualification in the next round.
Although many teams have also completed their group stage games, like East Bengal FC, who beat South United FC in their last game, and from Group B, Samaleswari & Baghpat have completed their fixtures. And now they will look to proceed into the next round.
Now let’s take a short glimpse of all the teams’ qualification scenario in the Durand Cup 2026.
Group A
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In Group A, Mohun Bagan have already booked their spot in the quarter-finals of the Durand Cup 2026. Now they will become the first team in the group to have purchased a ticket to the knockout stage, as they have nine points from their three games and now look to prove their worth after they have not conceded a single goal in this group stage and have also scored 15 goals.
And East Bengal FC, who started their Durand Cup journey with a Kolkata Derby loss, find themselves second on the couch with six points and have already played all their games; their qualification hopes are still alive with this emphatic victory. They have to wait till 10th August as after Mohun Bagan’s final group game then they will look for their fate.
South United and CISF Protectors have no chance to test their fortune in further competition as they are visibly out of the competition.
| Clubs | Played | Won | Draw | Lost | GF | GA | GD | Points |
| Mohun Bagan SG (Q) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 15 | 9 |
| East Bengal FC | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 1 | 12 | 6 |
| South United FC (E) | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 13 | -12 | 3 |
| CISF Protectors FT (E) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 16 | -16 | 0 |
Group B
Indian Army FT won back-to-back matches against Samaleswari Sporting by 1-0 and against Baghpat FC by 4-0. Now they are the favourites from Group B to book their place in the next round after an emphatic victory, but they still have a game in hand against Mohammedan Sporting Club, who are also on the verge of getting a ticket to the knockout stage and are placed third on the points table with just three points. But eliminated from it when they lost to the Indian Army FT in their last group stage game as the Black Panthers got eliminated from the Durand Cup 2026 as the Army side booked their spot in the knockouts.
Samaleswari Sporting has played all their games in the Durand Cup 2026 and sits in second position with six points.
| Clubs | Played | Won | Draw | Lost | GF | GA | GD | Points |
| Indian Army FT(Q) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 9 |
| Samaleswari Sporting | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 6 |
| Mohammedan SC | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 3 |
| Baghpat (Banaras) FC (E) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 12 | -11 | 0 |
Group C
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Talking about Group C, which is called the Group of Death, as two ISL sides are there alongside the Indian Air Force and the Sri Lankan club Defenders SC. Defenders SC has been eliminated from the Durand Cup 2026 as they lost all three of their games with a negative GD.
SC Delhi, who just made their debut in the Durand Cup 2026, showed great promise in the previous ISL season and have been very impressive through their two games, securing a late comeback win over Jamshedpur FC on the back of Hnamte’s brace. The capital side placed first in the points table and secured their spot in the quarters as they edged past Indian Air Force in their last group stage game.
The Red Miners need to win their last game over Indian Army to manage their spot.
Indian Air Force FT won their first match as well against the debutants Defenders FC by 2-1 and still have one match left to show their quality and depth in this year’s Durand Cup as the two best runners-up will also qualify.
| Clubs | Played | Won | Draw | Lost | GF | GA | GD | Points |
| Sporting Club Delhi (Q) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 2 | 14 | 9 |
| Jamshedpur FC | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Indian Air Force FT | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 8 | -5 | 3 |
| Defenders FC (E) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 14 | -13 | 0 |
Group D
FC Raengdai from this group has written their name in the Durand Cup qualification book after securing a quarter-final ticket following two consecutive wins. The group is very much open to all, but yes, only one spot remains for the three remaining teams.
Indian Navy focused on their last game and got defeated against TRAU, and Neroca look for a strong win as they have to recover their GD on the positive side.
TRAU won their last group stage match against Indian Navy FT by 2-1 and registered their first win in this year’s Durand Cup campaign. Their 2026 Durand Cup campaign ended on a winning note. Their run in the Durand Cup 2026 ended in the group stage with this win as well.
Indian NAVY & Neroca have no chance to prove their value right now as they are not eligible to count on for the quarter-final berth in the Durand Cup 2026.
| Clubs | Played | Won | Draw | Lost | GF | GA | GD | Points |
| FC Raengdai (Q) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| TRAU FC (E) | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 4 |
| Indian Navy FT (E) | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Neroca FC (E) | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | 1 |
Group E
Shillong Lajong FC and the local club from Shillong itself, Langsning FC, are currently the top two favourite teams that have points and also the potential to qualify for the knockouts of the Durand Cup 2026. Shillong Lajong FC have defeated Mumbay FC by 5-0 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Shillong on Saturday evening, August 8, 2026. Shillong Lajong FC have almost sealed their berth from Group E for the quarter-finals of the Durand Cup 2026 after this emphatic victory.
All the teams still have the chance to manage their things off and secure qualification by registering back-to-back wins, as all of the four teams need nothing but victories to secure their spot.
Langsning FC has right now the best chance to be on the second team to qualify, and Nongkseh SS & CC have no chance, and if they light up their moment, then GD might be the most difficult problem to overcome their situation. Although they had secured their win against Mumbay FC.
| Clubs | Played | Won | Draw | Lost | GF | GA | GD | Points |
| Shillong Lajong FC | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 6 |
| Langsning FC | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Nongkseh SS & CC (E) | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| Mumbay FC (E) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 17 | -17 | 0 |
Group F
The defending champions, NorthEast United FC, have the best chance to prove themselves again in the Durand Cup stage, as they already won all their games, and right now Pedro Benali’s squad look to play in the knockouts as they have qualified for the Durand Cup Quarter Finals.
And after that game they also won their second match against Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC by 4-1 at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Guwahati. With this win the defending champions are once again through to the next round of the Durand Cup 2026.
FC1, the Kashmir side also has the chance to manage their qualification for the first time in this competition along with Bodoland. And Karbi Morning has no chance to qualify as they lost their two consecutive games in the Durand Cup.
| Clubs | Played | Won | Draw | Lost | GF | GA | GD | Points |
| NorthEast United FC (Q) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 10 | 9 |
| FC1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 3 |
| Bodoland FC | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 7 | -4 | 3 |
| Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC (E) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | -4 | 0 |
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