Durand Cup 2026: 24 participating teams announced; five ISL teams take part
Kolkata is set to host the Durand Cup final
The countdown to the 135th Edition of the Durand Cup gathered further momentum as the Durand Cup Organising Committee announced the 24 participating teams across the tournament’s five host cities and confirmed the host city match windows.
The tournament will commence in Kolkata on July 25 before travelling across the five host cities over the following four weeks, culminating with the Final at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on August 23.
Hosted across Kolkata, Ranchi, Imphal, Guwahati and Shillong, this year’s edition will once again bring together a blend of India’s leading clubs, Services teams, emerging sides and international participation, continuing the tournament’s tradition of combining rich heritage with contemporary Indian football.
Kolkata will host the opening and final game of the Durand Cup
As the home of the Durand Cup since 2019, Kolkata once again forms the centrepiece of the tournament. The city will host two groups along with the inaugural match, two quarter-finals, a semi-final and the Final.
All matches will be played across both the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan and the Kishore Bharati Krirangan, with matches scheduled between July 25 and August 23.
The Kolkata roster is headlined by record 17-time champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant and 16-time champions East Bengal FC, two of the tournament’s most successful and historic clubs.
They are joined by Mohammedan SC, Bengaluru Super Division club South United FC, CISF Football Team, the reigning champions of the BN Mullick Memorial All India Police Games Football Championship, Indian Army Football Team, and Durand Cup debutants Baghpat FC, the reigning I-League 3 champions promoted to Indian Football League 2 this season, and fellow I-League 3 side Samaleswari Sporting from Sambalpur, Odisha.
Making its debut as a Durand Cup host, Ranchi marks another milestone in the tournament’s continued expansion. The Birsa Munda Stadium will stage league matches from July 26 to August 16 before hosting one of the tournament’s four quarter-finals.
The Jharkhand capital will welcome ISL sides Jamshedpur FC and Sporting Club Delhi, the Indian Air Force Football Team and debutants Defenders FC of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces.
Imphal will once again play host to the Durand Cup, reinforcing Manipur’s reputation as one of India’s richest football nurseries. The Khuman Lampak Stadium will host matches from July 28 to August 17, including a quarter-final, with local sides TRAU FC and NEROCA FC, Indian Navy Football Team and debutants FC Raengdai, runners-up in I-League 3 last season.
Also Read: Which teams have won the most consecutive Durand Cup titles?
Having successfully hosted the tournament last year, Shillong continues its growing association with the Durand Cup. The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium will stage matches from July 31 to August 20, culminating in one of the semi-finals.
Ranchi makes debut as the host city in the Durand Cup
The Shillong leg will feature three local clubs, Indian Football League runners up Shillong Lajong FC, Meghalaya Premier League champions Nongkseh Sports, Social & Cultural Club and another local side in Langsning FC, highlighting the tournament’s commitment to providing greater opportunities for home-grown clubs on a national stage.
They will be joined by debutants Mumbay FC from Maharashtra, ensuring an exciting blend of local representation and inter-state competition while once again bringing top-level football to one of the country’s most passionate football communities.
The Durand Cup football tournament returns to Guwahati, with the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium hosting league-stage matches between August 1 and August 13. The Assam leg will feature back-to-back defending champions NorthEast United FC alongside FC1 (players from J&K and Ladakh). Bodoland FC and Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC complete the lineup in Guwahati.
The four quarter-finals will be hosted in Kolkata, Ranchi, and Shillong, while Shillong and Kolkata will host one semi-final each before the tournament concludes with the final in Kolkata on August 23.
The host city line-up reflects the diverse character of the 135th edition, bringing together some of Indian football’s most celebrated clubs, ambitious emerging teams, Services sides and foreign services teams. As anticipation continues to build, football fans in India can now look forward to welcoming the country’s oldest football tournament to their cities.
When will the 135th IndianOil Durand Cup begin?
The tournament will kick off on July 25, 2026.
When and where is the final?
The final will be played on August 23, 2026, at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata.
How many teams are participating?
A total of 24 teams will compete in the tournament.
How many ISL teams are there?
5 ISL teams are participating in the 135th edition of the Durand Cup.
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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.