Paperless ticket rule introduced for Durand Cup 2026 matches in Kolkata
All 16 games hosted by Kolkata will see this new system
A major development has emerged regarding the Durand Cup 2026 as it is set to kick off on 25th July 2026, with the Kolkata Derby awaiting all football fans in India. People attending matches in Kolkata will no longer be required to get their online or e-tickets stamped, as the host city is set to stage 16 matches during the tournament.
West Bengal Sports Minister Dr. Indranil Khan clarified about this major event in the official Durand Cup press conference.
This year there are a total of 24 teams, with five ISL clubs, Indian Football League sides, service teams, and new names like Defenders FC from Sri Lanka. The stage is set as East Bengal and Mohun Bagan SG have been drawn together in Group A, and as things stand, on July 25 the Kolkata Derby will commence the Durand Cup 2026.
New E-ticket rules in the Durand Cup 2026
West Bengal Sports Minister Dr. Indranil Khan shared an update that all 16 matches which are set to be hosted by Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium and Kishore Bharati Krirangan, will require no stamp on their online tickets before heading into the game.
In the press conference, the minister clarified that all fans carrying valid online tickets also known as e-tickets, can go directly to the entry gates of the respective stadiums without any further verification. In the past few years, there are certain rules that all online ticket holders must stamp their tickets at their respective offline redemption outlets, and then they can head directly into the match to watch the game.
But from now on, as revealed by the Durand Cup Committee and also the Sports Minister of West Bengal, this move surely makes entry quicker and reduces long waiting times outside the Stadium.
West Bengal’s Sports Minister Indranil Khan stated about the new E-ticket rule for Durand Cup 2026.
“I have already mentioned this in my Facebook and Twitter posts. I have already spoken to the entire department about this. I would like to inform you that the Indian Army and the Department of Youth Services and Sports have all started with this paperless ticket for the first time ever.”
“And if you have a ticket, you can directly bring it to the stadium for the Durand Cup.”
Durand Cup 2026 fixtures
| Group A (Kolkata) | ||||
| Date | Day | Time | Fixture | Venue |
| 25 Jul | Sat | 17:00 | East Bengal FC vs Mohun Bagan Super Giant | Kolkata (VYBK) |
| 28 Jul | Tue | 19:30 | South United FC vs CISF Protectors | Kolkata (KBK) |
| 31 Jul | Wed | 19:30 | East Bengal FC vs CISF Protectors | Kolkata (KBK) |
| 4 Aug | Tue | 19:00 | Mohun Bagan Super Giant vs South United FC | Kolkata (VYBK) |
| 7 Aug | Fri | 19:00 | East Bengal FC vs South United FC | Kolkata (VYBK) |
| 10 Aug | Mon | 16:00 | Mohun Bagan Super Giant vs CISF Protectors | Kolkata (KBK) |
| Group B (Kolkata) | ||||
| Date | Day | Time | Fixture | Venue |
| 26 Jul | Sun | 19:30 | Indian Army FT vs Samaleswari Sporting | Kolkata (KBK) |
| 27 Jul | Mon | 19:00 | Mohammedan SC vs Baghpat FC | Kolkata (KBK) |
| 30 Jul | Thu | 19:00 | Samaleswari Sporting vs Baghpat FC | Kolkata (VYBK) |
| 2 Aug | Sun | 16:00 | Mohammedan SC vs Samaleswari Sporting | Kolkata (VYBK) |
| 5 Aug | Wed | 19:00 | Indian Army FT vs Baghpat FC | Kolkata (KBK) |
| 12 Aug | Wed | 19:00 | Mohammedan SC vs Indian Army FT | Kolkata (KBK) |
| Group C (Ranchi) | ||||
| Date | Day | Time | Fixture | Venue |
| 26 Jul | Sun | 17:00 | Jamshedpur FC vs Defenders FC | Ranchi (BMFS) |
| 29 Jul | Wed | 19:00 | Indian Air Force FT vs Defenders FC | Ranchi (BMFS) |
| 4 Aug | Tue | 16:00 | Jamshedpur FC vs SC Delhi | Ranchi (BMFS) |
| 7 Aug | Fri | 16:00 | SC Delhi vs Defenders FC | Ranchi (BMFS) |
| 10 Aug | Mon | 19:00 | SC Delhi vs Indian Air Force FT | Ranchi (BMFS) |
| 13 Aug | Thu | 16:00 | Jamshedpur FC vs Indian Air Force FT | Ranchi (BMFS) |
| Group D (Imphal) | ||||
| Date | Day | Time | Fixture | Venue |
| 28 Jul | Tue | 17:00 | TRAU FC vs NEROCA FC | Imphal (KLMS) |
| 30 Jul | Thu | 16:00 | FC Raengdai vs Indian Navy FT | Imphal (KLMS) |
| 3 Aug | Mon | 16:00 | TRAU FC vs FC Raengdai | Imphal (KLMS) |
| 5 Aug | Wed | 16:00 | NEROCA FC vs Indian Navy FT | Imphal (KLMS) |
| 9 Aug | Sun | 16:00 | TRAU FC vs Indian Navy FT | Imphal (KLMS) |
| 12 Aug | Wed | 16:00 | NEROCA FC vs FC Raengdai | Imphal (KLMS) |
| Group E (Shillong) | ||||
| Date | Day | Time | Fixture | Venue |
| 31 Jul | Fri | 17:00 | Shillong Lajong FC vs Nongkseh SS&CC | Shillong (JNS) |
| 3 Aug | Mon | 19:00 | Langsning FC vs Mumbay FC | Shillong (JNS) |
| 6 Aug | Thu | 19:00 | Nongkseh SS & CC vs Langsning FC | Shillong (JNS) |
| 8 Aug | Sat | 19:00 | Shillong Lajong FC vs Mumbay FC | Shillong (JNS) |
| 11 Aug | Tue | 16:00 | Nongkseh SS & CC vs Mumbay FC | Shillong (JNS) |
| 13 Aug | Thu | 19:00 | Shillong Lajong FC vs Langsning FC | Shillong (JNS) |
| Group F (Guwahati) | ||||
| Date | Day | Time | Fixture | Venue |
| 1 Aug | Sat | 16:30 | NorthEast United FC vs Bodoland FC | Guwahati (IGAS) |
| 3 Aug | Mon | 16:00 | Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC vs FC 1 | Guwahati (IGAS) |
| 6 Aug | Thu | 16:00 | Bodoland FC vs FC 1 | Guwahati (IGAS) |
| 8 Aug | Sat | 16:00 | NorthEast United FC vs Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC | Guwahati (IGAS) |
| 11 Aug | Tue | 19:00 | NorthEast United FC vs FC 1 | Guwahati (IGAS) |
| 13 Aug | Thu | 16:00 | Bodoland FC vs Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC | Guwahati (IGAS) |
Quarter Finals
- 1st Quarter-final: 16th August, 16:00 IST, Ranchi BMS
- 2nd Quarter-final: 16th August, 19:00 IST, Kolkata, VYBK
- 3rd Quarter-final: 17th August, 16:00 IST, Kolkata, VYBK
- 4th Quarter-final: 17th August, 19:00 IST, Shillong (JNS)
Semi Finals
- 1st Semi-final: 19th August, 19:00 IST, Kolkata, VYBK
- 2nd Semi-final: 20th August, 19:00 IST, Shillong (JNS)
Finals: 23rd August, Kolkata, VYBK, TBD
What is the new e-ticket rule for the Durand Cup 2026?
Fans with valid online (e-ticket) bookings for Durand Cup matches in Kolkata no longer need to get their tickets stamped at offline redemption centres before entering the stadium.
Which matches are covered under the new rule in the Durand Cup 2026?
The new system will be applicable for all 16 Durand Cup 2026 matches being played at Salt Lake Stadium and Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata.
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Rohit Mistri is a sports journalist from Kolkata with over two years of experience in the field. He has extensively covered Indian football, including major tournaments such as the Calcutta Football League and the Indian Super League. His work spans on-ground reporting, match coverage, and in-depth storytelling, along with interviews of prominent sporting personalities. Rohit brings strong communication skills and a deep passion for sports narratives to everything he writes.