24 Teams, 5 States Set to Clash for Prestigious Durand Cup

Kolkata, July 17, 2025 — The 134th edition of the IndianOil Durand Cup, Asia’s oldest football tournament, will see a threefold increase in total prize money to ₹3 crore, the Durand Cup Organising Committee (DCOC) announced during the trophy unveiling ceremony held at AOI Vijay Durg, Kolkata. The substantial increase reflects the tournament’s growing stature and aims to attract top football talent from across the country.

The event was graced by Shri Aroop Biswas, Minister-in-Charge of Youth Services & Sports, Government of West Bengal, who announced that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee would attend the grand finale on August 23. Also present were Shri Rajesh Kumar Sinha, IAS, Principal Secretary, Department of Youth Services & Sports, Lt Gen Mohit Malhotra AVSM, SM, Chief of Staff HQ Eastern Command and Chairman of DCOC, and Maj Gen Rajesh Arun Moghe VSM, Vice-Chairman of DCOC.

Unveiled at the ceremony were the three symbolic trophies of the tournament—the historic Durand Cup, the Shimla Trophy (donated in 1904), and the President’s Cup, awarded permanently to the champions.

Lt Gen Malhotra announced the enhancement of the prize pool, which was earlier under ₹1.2 crore, and revealed that winners of individual awards will also receive brand-new SUVs. “This expansion in rewards underlines our commitment to professional excellence,” he said, thanking the Government of West Bengal for its consistent support since the Eastern Command took over the tournament in 2019.

Maj Gen Moghe confirmed that the tournament will maintain its league-cum-knockout format with 24 teams divided into six groups, competing across five states. Kolkata will host two groups and 15 matches, including a quarterfinal, semifinal, and the final at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK) and Kishore Bharati Krirangan (KBK). He also highlighted the participation of grassroots clubs like 1-Ladakh FC, South United FC, Bodoland FC, and Rangdajied United FC.

Group A will see East Bengal FC face South United FC in the opening match on July 23. Group B features marquee clubs like Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Mohammedan SC, and Diamond Harbour FC, with a highly anticipated Kolkata Derby between Mohun Bagan and Mohammedan SC scheduled for July 31.

About the Durand Cup

The Durand Cup, established in 1888 in Shimla, is the third-oldest football tournament in the world and a cornerstone of India’s footballing heritage. Now organized by the Indian Army, it shifted to Kolkata in 2019 under the Eastern Command and has since evolved into a multi-city, multi-state tournament, this year spanning West Bengal, Jharkhand, Assam, Meghalaya, and Manipur.