Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], The 133rd edition of the Durand Cup football tournament, the opening of the Indian football season, will begin on July 27 and the final is scheduled for August 31.
The tournament schedule was announced by the Eastern Command Headquarters of the Indian Army, on behalf of the Durand Football Tournament Society (DFTS), which will organize this year's edition of Asia's oldest football tournament.
This year two new cities, Jamshedpur and Shillong, have been added as host cities. Kokrajhar in Assam will be the host for the second consecutive year, apart from Kolkata, which has been hosting for the last five years of the tournament.
24 teams will participate in the 133rd edition, representing the widest possible spectrum of Indian football, such as the Indian Super League, the I-League and other invited teams, as well as teams from the Armed Forces. Additionally, like last year, international teams are expected to participate this year.
Talking about the preparations for the tournament, Lieutenant General Ram Chander Tiwari said that the Durand Cup is a matter of immense pride for the Indian Arny Eastern Command.
"The Durand Cup is a source of immense pride for the Eastern Command. The event has become a cornerstone in the Indian football landscape and a beacon of sporting excellence. Football is more than just a sport. It is a unifying force that unites people from diverse backgrounds, cultures and walks of life. It embodies the spirit of teamwork, perseverance and fair play. The Durand Cup, with its long tradition, embodies these values and continues to inspire countless young athletes to dream of. great. and strive for excellence," said Lt. Gen. Tiwari, according to a statement.
"We in the military are very proud to organize the Durand Cup and it also strengthens the civil-military relationship in the country. We sincerely thank the state governments of the four states for their tireless support. This year, the Durand Cup promises to be more exciting and competitive than ever. I wish everyone involved another successful Durand Cup Tournament and may the best team win," he added.
A total of 43 matches would be played in a round-robin and knockout league format, with the finals scheduled at the iconic Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK) in Kolkata. The 24 teams will be divided into six groups. A total of eight teams (the first in the group and the two best second-placed teams) would qualify for the knockout phase.
Kolkata will host three groups, while Kokrajhar, Shillong and Jamshedpur will host one group each. The three coveted Durand Trophies will begin a nationwide tour from New Delhi on July 10 before arriving in Kolkata ahead of the opening match on July 27.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant are the defending champions, having won the tournament for a record 17th time, the most by any team, last year.
The tournament schedule was announced by the Eastern Command Headquarters of the Indian Army, on behalf of the Durand Football Tournament Society (DFTS), which will organize this year's edition of Asia's oldest football tournament.
This year two new cities, Jamshedpur and Shillong, have been added as host cities. Kokrajhar in Assam will be the host for the second consecutive year, apart from Kolkata, which has been hosting for the last five years of the tournament.
24 teams will participate in the 133rd edition, representing the widest possible spectrum of Indian football, such as the Indian Super League, the I-League and other invited teams, as well as teams from the Armed Forces. Additionally, like last year, international teams are expected to participate this year.
Talking about the preparations for the tournament, Lieutenant General Ram Chander Tiwari said that the Durand Cup is a matter of immense pride for the Indian Arny Eastern Command.
"The Durand Cup is a source of immense pride for the Eastern Command. The event has become a cornerstone in the Indian football landscape and a beacon of sporting excellence. Football is more than just a sport. It is a unifying force that unites people from diverse backgrounds, cultures and walks of life. It embodies the spirit of teamwork, perseverance and fair play. The Durand Cup, with its long tradition, embodies these values and continues to inspire countless young athletes to dream of. great. and strive for excellence," said Lt. Gen. Tiwari, according to a statement.
"We in the military are very proud to organize the Durand Cup and it also strengthens the civil-military relationship in the country. We sincerely thank the state governments of the four states for their tireless support. This year, the Durand Cup promises to be more exciting and competitive than ever. I wish everyone involved another successful Durand Cup Tournament and may the best team win," he added.
A total of 43 matches would be played in a round-robin and knockout league format, with the finals scheduled at the iconic Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK) in Kolkata. The 24 teams will be divided into six groups. A total of eight teams (the first in the group and the two best second-placed teams) would qualify for the knockout phase.
Kolkata will host three groups, while Kokrajhar, Shillong and Jamshedpur will host one group each. The three coveted Durand Trophies will begin a nationwide tour from New Delhi on July 10 before arriving in Kolkata ahead of the opening match on July 27.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant are the defending champions, having won the tournament for a record 17th time, the most by any team, last year.
