Kolkata, July 17: The football fever is all set to grip the nation once again as the 134th edition of the IndianOil Durand Cup, Asia’s oldest and the world’s third-oldest football tournament, gears up to begin on July 23, at the iconic Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK) in Kolkata.
The opening clash will be exiting as Emami East Bengal FC, one of Indian football’s traditional giants, takes on tournament debutants South United FC, a Bengaluru-based club, in a Group A fixture. This curtain-raiser marks the beginning of a month-long celebration of football that will feature 43 matches across six cities, culminating in the grand finale on August 23.
In a ceremonious build-up to the 134th IndianOil Durand Cup, the prestigious three historic trophies, the Durand Cup, President’s Cup, and Shimla Trophy, embarked on a grand tour of Kolkata on July 17. The event took place at the iconic Fort William, symbolizing the strong bond between Indian football and the Armed Forces.
The occasion was graced by Shri Aroop Biswas, Honourable Sports Minister of West Bengal, alongside Lt General Mohit Malhotra and other senior dignitaries of the Indian Army.The presence of military leadership alongside civil authorities highlighted the tournament’s heritage, rooted deeply in discipline, sportsmanship, and national pride.
In a major boost to the tournament’s prestige, the prize money for the 134th Durand Cup has been tripled, with the champions set to receive 3 crore. Adding to the glory, this year’s winners will be honoured with the President’s Cup at the Rashtrapati Bhavan after the final historic gesture that further elevates the legacy and national importance of Asia’s oldest football tournament.
Durand Cup 2025 – Moments from the Kolkata Press Meet & Trophy Tour
Venue:
This edition will be played across six venues in six different cities, further expanding the tournament’s national footprint. Notably, Kolkata will host two groups (A and B), while the remaining four groups will be hosted in different parts of India:
Kolkata: Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan & Kishore Bharati Krirangan
Jamshedpur: JRD Tata Sports Complex
Shillong: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium
Kokrajhar: SAI Stadium
Imphal: Khuman Lampak Stadium
Groups:
Group A (Kolkata): Emami East Bengal FC, Indian Air Force FT, Namdhari FC, South United FC
Group B (Kolkata): Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Mohammedan SC, Diamond Harbour FC, Border Security Force FT
Group C (Jamshedpur): Jamshedpur FC, Tribhuvan Army FT, Indian Army FT, 1 Ladakh FC
Group D (Kokrajhar): Punjab FC, ITBP FT, Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC, Bodoland FC
Group E (Shillong): Shillong Lajong FC, NorthEast United FC, Foreign Services Team, Rangdajied United FC
Group F (Imphal): TRAU FC, NEROCA FC, Real Kashmir FC, Indian Navy FT
Full schedule of 134th IndianOil Durand Cup
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