Durand Cup 2026 Fixtures Announced: Kolkata Derby Between Mohun Bagan and East Bengal to Open 135th Edition
The 135th edition of the IndianOil Durand Cup is set to begin with one of Indian football's most iconic rivalries, as Mohun Bagan Super Giant take on East Bengal FC in the opening match on July 25 at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata.
The blockbuster Kolkata Derby will launch another edition of Asia's oldest football tournament, which will run until August 23, featuring 24 teams divided into six groups across five host cities Kolkata, Ranchi, Imphal, Shillong and Guwahati.
The Durand Cup Organising Committee officially announced the fixtures on Friday, setting the stage for a month-long football festival that combines Indian Super League clubs, I-League teams, Services sides, emerging clubs and international participation.
The tournament will be broadcast live on the Sony Sports Network, with streaming available on SonyLIV.
Since becoming the permanent home of the Durand Cup in 2019, Kolkata has remained the tournament's focal point, and the 2026 edition is no different. The City of Joy will host Groups A and B, two quarter-finals, the first semifinal and the grand final. Naturally, all eyes will be on the opening Kolkata Derby between the tournament's two most successful clubs.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant, who have won the Durand Cup a record 17 times, will begin their latest campaign against arch-rivals East Bengal FC, the competition's second-most successful club with 16 titles. Few fixtures in Asian football match the intensity and history of the Kolkata Derby, making it a fitting curtain-raiser for the 135th edition.
Group A also features South United FC and CISF Protectors, with Mohun Bagan concluding their group-stage campaign against CISF Protectors on August 10. Group B includes Mohammedan SC, Indian Army FT, and tournament debutants Baghpat FC and Samaleswari Sporting. The group opens on July 26 with Indian Army FT taking on Samaleswari Sporting before concluding with Mohammedan SC facing Indian Army FT on August 12.
One of the biggest additions to this year's tournament is Ranchi, which will host Durand Cup matches for the first time. The Birsa Munda Football Stadium will stage all fixtures in Group C.
The group consists of Jamshedpur FC, Sporting Club Delhi, Indian Air Force FT, and Defenders FC, the Sri Lankan Armed Forces club making its Durand Cup debut. Ranchi's inaugural match will see Jamshedpur FC take on Defenders FC on July 26, while the group concludes on August 13 with Jamshedpur facing Indian Air Force FT.
The tournament's strong connection with Northeast India continues through host cities Imphal and Shillong. Group D, based in Imphal, features local rivals TRAU FC and NEROCA FC, alongside FC Raengdai and Indian Navy FT. The opening fixture on July 28 promises immediate excitement as TRAU and NEROCA renew one of Manipur's biggest football rivalries.
Another all-Manipur contest between NEROCA and FC Raengdai will conclude the group stage. Shillong, meanwhile, will showcase the strength of Meghalaya football. Group E includes Shillong Lajong FC, Langsning FC, Nongkseh SS&CC, and tournament debutants Mumbay FC from Maharashtra.
The opening fixture will feature Shillong Lajong against Meghalaya Premier League champions Nongkseh SS&CC, while the eagerly awaited Shillong Derby between Lajong and Langsning will bring the group stage to a close on August 13.
Group F in Guwahati will be headlined by NorthEast United FC, who enter the competition chasing a historic third consecutive Durand Cup title. The defending champions begin their campaign against Bodoland FC on August 1. Also placed in the group are FC1 and Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC, reflecting the increasing competitiveness of football across the Northeast region.
NorthEast United will be among the favourites once again after winning the previous two editions and will be aiming to become one of the few clubs to achieve three straight Durand Cup triumphs.
Following the completion of the league phase, the six group winners and the two best second-placed teams will qualify for the knockout rounds. The quarterfinals will begin on August 16, with matches scheduled in Ranchi and Kolkata before the remaining two quarterfinals are played on August 17 in Kolkata and Shillong. The first semifinal will be held at Kolkata's Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on August 19, while Shillong's Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium will host the second semifinal a day later.
The tournament will culminate with the final on August 23 in Kolkata, where the champions of the 135th IndianOil Durand Cup will be crowned.
The 2026 Durand Cup once again reflects the tournament's unique identity. Alongside traditional powerhouses such as Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Mohammedan SC are emerging clubs, Services teams and international participants, ensuring a diverse and competitive field. The addition of Ranchi as a host city and the continued expansion across eastern and northeastern India further reinforces the tournament's growing national footprint.
With the fixtures now confirmed, attention shifts to the football itself. From the opening Kolkata Derby on July 25 to the final on August 23, the 135th IndianOil Durand Cup promises another exciting chapter in the history of one of the world's oldest and most prestigious football tournaments.
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