The 135th Durand Cup will kick off on July 25 with a blockbuster Kolkata derby between Mohun Bagan Super Giant and East Bengal FC at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan. The tournament features 24 teams across six groups and five host cities, running till August 23. Group winners and best runners-up will advance to the knockout stage.

Kolkata: The 135th Durand Cup will commence fittingly with one of Indian football's greatest rivalries as record 17-time champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant take on 16-time winners East Bengal FC in the opening fixture at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on July 25.

The Durand Cup Organising Committee announced the fixtures, setting the stage for another exciting edition of Asia's oldest football tournament. Featuring 24 teams across six groups and five host cities, the tournament will be played from July 25 to August 23, bringing together India's leading clubs, Services teams, emerging football institutions and international participation in a month-long celebration of football, according to a press release.

Hosted across Kolkata, Ranchi, Imphal, Shillong and Guwahati, this year's Durand Cup once again reflects the tournament's expanding national footprint while remaining firmly rooted in the football heartlands of eastern and northeastern India. The group stage combines established powerhouses, ambitious newcomers, Services teams, regional champions and international participation, underlining the unique character that has defined the tournament for well over a century.

Kolkata, the home of the Durand Cup since 2019, will once again occupy centre stage by hosting Groups A and B, the tournament opener, two quarter-finals, the first semi-final and the Final.