President Droupadi Murmu Unveils Durand Cup and Other Trophies at Rashtrapati Bhavan

On July 10, President Droupadi Murmu unveiled the prestigious Durand Cup, President’s Cup, and Shimla Trophy at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The 133rd edition of the Durand Cup football tournament will begin on July 27 and conclude on August 31.

Event Details

The tournament, organized by the Durand Football Tournament Society (DFTS) and announced by HQ Eastern Command of the Indian Army, will feature 24 teams from various leagues, including the Indian Super League and I-League, as well as teams from the Armed Forces. International teams are also expected to participate.

Host Cities

This year, the tournament will be hosted in multiple cities: Kolkata, Jamshedpur, Shillong, and Kokrajhar. Kolkata will host three groups, while the other cities will host one group each. The finals will be held at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK) in Kolkata.

Tournament Format

The 24 teams will be divided into six groups, with a total of 43 matches played in a round-robin league-cum-knockout format. The group toppers and the two best second-placed teams will advance to the knockout stage.

Defending Champions

Mohun Bagan Super Giant, the defending champions, won the tournament for a record 17th time last year.

The three coveted Durand Trophies will embark on a nationwide tour from New Delhi on July 10 before reaching Kolkata for the opening game on July 27.