Durand Cup 2024 Draw: Mohun Bagan, East Bengal Clash in Group Stage

The Durand Cup 2024, Asia's oldest football tournament, is set to kick off on July 27th, with defending champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant and archrivals East Bengal FC drawn together in the same group. The tournament will feature 24 teams from the Indian Super League (ISL), I-League, international teams, and the Armed Forces.

This year, Jamshedpur and Shillong join Kokrajhar and Kolkata as host cities, with each hosting group stage fixtures. Kolkata, the main venue, will host three groups, while Jamshedpur, Shillong, and Kokrajhar will each host one group.

The tournament will follow a round-robin league format with knockout stages, culminating in the final at Kolkata's Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan. In total, 43 matches will be played, and the top teams from each group, along with the two best second-placed teams, will advance to the knockout phase.

Group A, hosted in Kolkata, features Mohun Bagan SG, East Bengal FC, Indian Air Force FT, and Downtown Heroes FC. Group B, also in Kolkata, includes Bengaluru FC, Inter Kashi FC, Indian Navy FT, and Mohammedan SC. Group C, the third Kolkata-based group, consists of Kerala Blasters FC, Mumbai City FC, Punjab FC, and CISF Protectors FT.

Group D, hosted in Jamshedpur, features Jamshedpur FC, Chennaiyin FC, Indian Army FT, and Bangladesh Army FT. Group E, in Kokrajhar, includes Odisha FC, NorthEast United FC, Bodoland FC, and BSF FT. Group F, hosted in Shillong, consists of FC Goa, Hyderabad FC, Shillong Lajong FC, and Tribhuvan Army FC.

International teams Tribhuvan Army FC from Nepal and Bangladesh Army Football Team will return to the tournament after participating in the previous edition. The tournament promises exciting matches and intense rivalries, with the top teams in India vying for the coveted Durand Cup trophy.

Tags: #DurandCup2024, #MohunBagan, #EastBengal, #IndianFootball, #InternationalTeams