East Bengal FC vs Indian Army FT Preview - Team news, lineups | Durand Cup 2026

East Bengal face Indian Army FT in quarterfinal 2 in Kolkata.

East Bengal will lock horns against Indian Army FT in quarterfinal 2 of 2026 Durand Cup at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK), Kolkata on August 16, 2026, Sunday at 7 PM (IST).

East Bengal, after losing their opening match in the group stage of the Durand Cup 2026 against arch-rivals Mohun Bagan Super Giant 1-0, came back strongly with two dominant wins against CISF Protectors Football Team (8-0) and South United FC (5-0).

These two emphatic victories and a goal difference of +12 helped the Torchbearers qualify for the quarterfinals as one of the best second-placed teams from Group A.

On the other hand, Indian Army FT have been impressive throughout the tournament and made their way into the quarterfinals as Group B toppers with nine points from three matches.

They won all three of their group-stage matches, defeating Samaleswari Sporting 1-0, Baghpat FC 4-0 and Mohammedan SC 2-1 to confirm their place in the knockouts.

East Bengal would like to continue their winning run under their new head coach, Antonio Lopez Habas, by withstanding the gruelling challenge of Indian Army FT and sealing their place in the semifinals.

Meanwhile, Indian Army FT will look to carry their positive momentum forward and create an upset against a stronger side like the Red and Gold Brigade.

The Stakes

East Bengal FC

East Bengal are coming into this match on the back of a great win, 4-1, over Kuwaiti club Al-Arabi SC in the AFC Champions League Two qualifier.

They made a historic comeback in the second half of the extra-time to seal their spot in the group stages of the ACL Two 2026-2027,becoming the only Indian club to qualify for the group stage this year.

East Bengal were able maintain their defensive discipline and played attacking football under their new head coach Antonio Lopez Habas. Now, the challenge for the Torchbearers is to maintain winning consistency if they really want to dominate their way into winning the Durand Cup championship.

This is a knockout match and a must-win as well, Indian Army might be an easy opponent for the Red and Gold Brigade but the task will be not so easy.

East Bengal were dominant and impressive in the group stage matches and they have scored 13 goals in 3 matches with their Indian players like PV Vishnu, Edmund Lalrindika, Jesin TK, Bipin Singh, Jay Gupta, Hardik Bhatt, David Lalhlansanga and others contributing and in good form as well.

The Dani Ramirez and Mohammed Rashid duo is slowly getting into shape in the midfield for the Moshal Brigade under Habas and we might also see more of Chris Ikonomidis, the new recruit.

East Bengal are full of confidence and in excellent form after their comeback win in the AFC Champions League Two qualifier. They will look to carry that winning momentum into this match..

A dominating win for East Bengal will not only help them to seal their spot for the semifinal, but also further improve the belief in Habas’ system – but a loss or draw in the must-win game can be an unnecessary setback for the club before the ACL Two group stage fixtures and the new Indian Super League (ISL) season.

Indian Army FT

To their credit, the two times Durand Cup champions, the Indian Army FT were also dominant and impressive in the group stages of the Durand Cup. They have won all of their group stage fixtures and have produced some quality performances throughout the tournament. They were the group toppers from Group B.

But the challenge for the next game will be a much tougher one for the Indian Army FT. Indian Army FT realize that they’ll need to perform at a really high level to be able to oust East Bengal and produce a real upset over them in a must-win clash in the quarterfinals of the Durand Cup 2026.

They will need to maintain an extremely sturdy defensive shape and keep 100% concentration levels to be able to neutralize the threat of the Torchbearers’ star-studded attack with Jessin TK, PV Vishnu,Edmund Lalrindika and David Lalhlansanga.

Moreover, the Indian Army FT club also need to be clinical in converting any chances that come their way to be able to get a positive result which is eventually a knockout clash for both the teams in Kolkata to seal their place for the 135th edition of the Durand Cup semifinals.

A win for the Indian Army FT can be a huge indication of how they’ve played their matches in the group stage, but a bitter loss can ruin all their good work so far and as a result they will get eliminated from the Durand Cup 2026.

Team News

East Bengal’s new Spanish defender, Nacho Monsalve, is injured and will miss the match. Mohammed Rashid has a slight cramp but is fit to play.

Boris Singh and Danish Farooq are recovering from their respective injuries. Other than that, East Bengal have a fully fit squad.

Indian Army FT should have a fully fit unit available for their upcoming game.

Head-to-Head Record (Durand Cup)

This is the second time that East Bengal and Indian Army FT will meet each other in the Durand Cup. Last time when they played against each other it was way back in 2003.

It was then Army XI and East Bengal defeated them in the 2002-2003 Durand Cup final 3-0 at the Ambedkar Stadium, Delhi, on January 10, 2003 to clinch their 15th Durand Cup title.

Matches Played – 1

East Bengal wins – 1

Indian Army FT (Then Army XI) wins – 0

Draws – 0

Predicted Lineups

East Bengal (4-2-3-1)

Prabhsukhan Singh Gill (GK), Hardik Bhatt, Jay Gupta, Anwar Ali, Sandip Mandi, Mohammed Rashid, Dani Ramirez, Jeakson Singh, Edmund Lalrindika, Bipin Singh, PV Vishnu.

Indian Army FT (4-4-2)

Bhabindra Malla Thakuri (GK), Pardeep Singh, Sunil B, Shafeel PP, Abhishek Shankar, Saikhom Borish Singh, Lethaolen Khongsai, Shubham Rana, Chabin Rabha, Samir Murmu, P. Christopher Kamei.

Players to Watchout

Mohammed Rashid (East Bengal)

The Palestinian midfielder will be one of the key game changers for East Bengal in this knockout clash against Indian Army FT. He has proved himself last season as well as in this season so far, why he has been one of the best recruits for the Moshal Brigade in the midfield in the recent past.

Rashid’s ability to influence the game from midfield with his physical presence, attacking movement and shooting ability makes him extra special. He was in excellent form in the recent AFC Champions League Two qualifier against Kuwaiti club Al-Arabi SC, where he scored a brilliant goal and provided an assist.

His ability to make late runs into the box and contribute in the final third could make him a key player for the Red and Gold Brigade against Indian Army FT. His intelligent runs and ability to support the attacking line are added advantages for any team he plays for.

Therefore, the Indian Army defence will need to remain very alert to neutralise the constant threat posed by Mohammed Rashid in this knockout clash in Kolkata.

P. Christopher Kamei (Indian Army FT)

P. Christopher Kamei is an experienced midfielder for the Indian Army side and has already made a significant impact in the Durand Cup 2026. The midfielder is capable of delivering dangerous ball into the penalty area.

He has scored two goals so far in the tournament, including a stunning free-kick against Samaleswari Sporting in the group stage and another goal against Mohammedan SC. He will be one of the biggest attacking threats that East Bengal’s defenders will need to monitor and deal with in this match.

He is dangerous in set-pieces and can control the game from the midfield. He can dictate the attacks from the midfield and can also score from powerful long-rangers.

So the Red and Gold defenders need to be very alert to neutralize the constant threat posed by Christopher Kamei in this knockout clash in Kolkata.

Did you know?

• The last time East Bengal played against Indian Army FT was way back in the 2002–03 Durand Cup final. At the time, the Indian Army FT was known as Army XI. East Bengal defeated Army XI 3-0 in the final at Ambedkar Stadium in Delhi on January 10, 2003, to clinch their 15th Durand Cup title. The goalscorers for East Bengal were Mike Okoro, Kalia Kulothungan and Douglas da Silva.
• Various teams from the Indian Armed Forces have won the cup post-independence. Indian Army FT is one of them. The official Durand Cup trivia page lists Indian Army as champions in 2005 and 2016, making them one of the most successful military sides in the competition.
• East Bengal have won the Durand Cup 16 times which is second-highest after Mohun Bagan SG as they have won 17 titles.

Telecast Details

The Durand Cup 2026 quarterfinal clash between East Bengal and Indian Army FT will take place at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK), Kolkata on Sunday, 16 August (2026).

The match will kick off at 7 PM IST. It will be livestreamed on Sony LIV and be broadcasted live on Sony Ten 2.

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