The 134th edition of the Durand Cup, Asia’s oldest and the world’s third-oldest football tournament, is set to begin on July 23, spanning five Indian states and six venues. This year’s edition promises to be one of the grandest in the tournament’s storied history, with a significant increase in prize money, international participation, and special honours for the winners.
During the trophy unveiling ceremony held in Kolkata, West Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas, Lt. General Mohit Malhotra, and other senior officials from the Durand Organising Committee announced a host of surprises and developments for the 2025 edition.
The tournament promises to be highly competitive, especially with the participation of two foreign teams — one from Malaysia and the other from Nepal. Among the Indian teams, everyone is participating, especially Kolkata’s big clubs — East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, Mohammedan Sporting, and Diamond Harbour FC.
The total prize purse has been nearly tripled to ₹3 crore, up from ₹1.10 crore in the previous edition. In addition to cash rewards, individual awardees — including the Best Goalkeeper, Top Scorer, and Golden Ball winner — will each receive an SUV car.
In a significant gesture, the winning team will be invited to the Rashtrapati Bhavan, where the President of India will personally present the President’s Cup, one of the three trophies awarded to the champions. This move revives an old tradition of high tea with the President for both captains from the teams that make the final.
This edition will feature 24 teams, divided into six groups. Kolkata will host Group A and B matches at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan and Kishore Bharati Krirangan. East Bengal FC will play the opening match against South United FC, with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expected to be present for the inaugural ceremony.
Other participating Kolkata clubs include Mohun Bagan SG, Mohammedan SC, and debutants Diamond Harbour FC. New entrants also include Ladakh FC and ITBP.
While seven ISL teams — including Kerala Blasters, Chennaiyin FC, FC Goa, and Bengaluru FC — have opted out due to ISL scheduling uncertainty, six ISL clubs will participate: Mohun Bagan SG, East Bengal FC, Mohammedan SC, NorthEast United FC, Punjab FC, and Jamshedpur FC.
In a historic expansion, the tournament will be played across West Bengal, Jharkhand, Assam, Meghalaya, and Manipur, showcasing its growing national footprint. Shillong clubs, Shillong Lajong FC and Rangdajied United FC, are back, with a highly anticipated Manipur derby between NEROCA FC and TRAU FC also set to draw local attention.
Two foreign services teams — one from Nepal and another from Malaysia — will also join the competition, marking the Durand Cup’s increasing international relevance.
The tournament aims to promote football across regions and levels, providing a platform for emerging Indian talent. Several clubs are expected to field all-Indian squads, offering local strikers a rare chance to shine in a competitive environment — something lacking in the Indian Super League. Notably, Sunil Chhetri first made his mark in the Durand Cup, and this edition could unearth the next Indian star forward.
Addressing concerns from previous years about ticket distribution in Kolkata, organisers assured transparency this time. “For non-derby matches at Yuba Bharati, clubs like Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, Mohammedan Sporting, and Diamond Harbour FC will each receive 5,000 general tickets, in addition to box and VIP allocations,” said Biswas.
At Kishore Bharati, each of the four Kolkata clubs will be allotted 2,000 general tickets, 30 box seats, and 200 upper-tier seats.
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