The 133rd edition of the Durand Cup, Asia's oldest and the world's fifth oldest football tournament, is set to kick off on July 27th in Kolkata. The tournament will feature 24 teams divided into six groups, with matches taking place in four cities: Kolkata, Kokrajhar, Shillong, and Jamshedpur.
The inaugural match will see reigning champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant face off against Downtown Heroes FC of Kashmir. The much-anticipated Kolkata Derby between Mohun Bagan and East Bengal will take place on August 18th, serving as the final group game.
Group A, B, and C matches will be played in Kolkata, while Jamshedpur will host Group D matches. Jamshedpur FC will face Bangladesh Army Football Team in the first match in Jamshedpur.
Group E games will commence in Kokrajhar on July 30th, with local side Bodoland FC taking on ISL side NorthEast United FC. Shillong, another first-time host, will see Shillong Lajong FC take on Nepal's Tribhuvan Army Football Team in the opening fixture of Group F.
The tournament will feature a total of 43 matches, with the six group toppers and two best second-placed teams qualifying for the knockouts. The Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Kishore Bharati Krirangan, JRD Tata Sports Complex, SAI Stadium, and Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium will host the matches.
The Durand Cup has a rich history, having been first played in 1888. It is a prestigious tournament that has seen some of the biggest names in Indian football participate over the years. The tournament is expected to attract a large number of fans and generate significant excitement in the Indian football community.
Tags: #DurandCup, #IndianFootball, #MohunBagan, #EastBengal, #KolkataDerby
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