The 133rd Durand Cup, the oldest and most prestigious football tournament organized by the Indian Army
133rd Edition of The Durand Cup
The 133rd Durand Cup, the oldest and most prestigious football tournament organized by the Indian Army, had its curtain-raiser on Thursday at Fort William in Kolkata. The Durand Cup, which begins in an Olympic atmosphere, is set to commence its 133rd season. The tournament, known as Asia’s oldest football competition, will feature several entertaining matches.
The Durand Cup (also called the Indian Oil Durand Cup Powered by Coal India Limited for sponsorship reasons) is an annual domestic football competition in India which was first held in 1888 in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh. Hosted by the Durand Football Tournament Society (DFTS) and the All-India Football Federation (AIFF), the tournament is the oldest existing club football tournament in Asia and the fifth oldest national football competition in the world.
Current champions Mohun Bagan SG (17th title)
Most successful team(s) Mohun Bagan SG (17 titles)
Motto : A Saga of Enduring Glory
Many Champions. One Legacy.
The quest for a lasting legacy
A total of 43 matches will be played across six groups. Indian Super League (ISL) teams, I-League teams, foreign clubs, and armed forces teams will all participate in the football extravaganza. Â The winner of each group and the top two runners-up will qualify for the knockout stages. Kolkata’s mega derby, between Mohun Bagan Super Giants and East Bengal FC, will be a highlight of the tournament.
The first all-India tournament of the upcoming season, the Durand Cup, will start on July 27 and continue until August 31. Mohun Bagan SG and Emami East Bengal are in the same group, and their derby match will take place on August 18.
Teams
Twenty-four teams are participating in this year’s Durand Cup namely Mohun Bagan SG, Bengaluru FC, Kerala Blasters FC, Jamshedpur FC, Odisha FC, FC Goa, East Bengal FC, Inter Kashi, Mumbai City FC, Chennaiyin FC, NorthEast United FC, Hyderabad FC, Indian Air Force FT, Indian Navy FT, Punjab FC, Indian Army FT, Bodoland FC, Shillong Lajong FC, Downtown Heroes FC, Mohammedan SC, CISF, Protectors FT, Bangladesh Army FT.
Prize Money Set at INR 1 Crore
This year, the prize money is set at ₹1 crore. The champion team will receive ₹60 lakhs, the runner-up team will get ₹30 lakhs, and the remaining ₹10 lakhs will be awarded as individual prizes.
