Ranchi joins as a debut host as India’s oldest football tournament Durand Cup returns across five cities from July 25 to August 23, 2026.
Kolkata, June 25: The 135th edition of the Durand Cup is set to kick off on July 25 and will run until August 23, 2026. The tournament will be held across five cities. The oldest and most prestigious football tournament in India, and the world’s third-oldest surviving football tournament, continues to promote and strengthen football culture across the cities hosting its matches.
This edition’s debutant host city is Ranchi. For the first time, Ranchi will host Durand Cup matches, alongside the other four host cities, Kolkata, Guwahati, Imphal, and Shillong. In Kolkata, fixtures will be played at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan and the Kishore Bharati Krirangan. Ranchi’s fixtures will be held at the Birsa Munda Stadium. The Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium will host the matches in Guwahati, while the Khuman Lampak Stadium and the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium will host fixtures in Imphal and Shillong respectively.
With 24 teams, including two invited Army teams from neighbouring nations, the tournament will follow its traditional format of a group stage followed by the knockout rounds, although the fixtures are yet to be announced. Organised by the Eastern Command of the Indian Army on behalf of the three services, the tournament continues its rich legacy by bringing together India’s renowned football clubs and the Services teams. This year as well, Indian Oil Corporation Limited continues its association with the Durand Cup as a key partner.
As the countdown to the 135th Durand Cup begins, teams are preparing, Ranchi joining the list of host cities and the tournament once again bringing together India’s leading clubs alongside the Services teams, the competition promises another chapter in its storied history while continuing to expand the reach and popularity of football across the country. This season, NorthEast United FC will enter the tournament as the defending champions, having won the title in the previous two editions. The fixtures for the tournament will be announced soon.
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