Defending champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant will lead the charge as 24 teams prepare for the 133rd edition of the Durand Cup, the inaugural competition of Indian football’s new season. Mohun Bagan SG, also the holders of the Indian Super League shield title, will face Srinagar-based club Downtown Heroes FC, which plays in I-League Division 2, in the opening Group A league match at the Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday.
The tournament format features 24 teams divided into six groups of four teams each. The groups include teams from the ISL, I-League, and the Services teams of India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. Kolkata will host the matches of Groups A, B, and C, while Jamshedpur will host Group D matches. Kokrajhar and Shillong will host the Group E and F league matches respectively.
The 36-match group league stage will conclude with the Kolkata derby featuring two of the oldest teams in the continent – Mohun Bagan SG and East Bengal FC – on August 18. The top team from each group and the two best second-placed teams will advance to the quarterfinals (knock-out stage). The quarterfinals are scheduled to start on August 21 and will be held in Jamshedpur, Kokrajhar, and Kolkata, which will host two matches. Kolkata will host both the semifinals and the final, which will be held on August 31.
