Durand Cup 2025: Indonesia Army, 1ladakh under new teams; Eastern Bengal, Mohun Bagan under six ISL clubs that compete

The Durand Cup 2025 is ready to continue as planned, runs from July 22 to August 23 at six locations in five states, where the Indonesian army is participating in the tournament for the first time.

The Durand Cup is the oldest tournament in Asia and is organized by the Indian forces. Originally held in New Delhi, the tournament was moved to West Bengal in 2019 and has since been organized in the eastern part of India.

Initially, the Indian Super League (ISL) clubs dealt with it as a pre-season tournament-out that it is an invitation game IS-and often reserved reserve cans.

In 2022, the AIFF made it mandatory for all clubs to participate. The following three editions were won by Bengaluru FC, Mohun Bagan Super Giant and Northeast United respectively.

With the Masters Agreement between the ISL organizers – FSDL – and the Aiff that ends in December and the future of the League uncertain, various clubs have withdrawn from the Durand Cup.

For the 2025 edition, only six of the 13 ISL clubs – East Bengal, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Punjab FC, Jameshedpur FC, Northast United FC and Mohammedan Sporting – have confirmed their participation. However, the team selection of Mohun Bagan depends on the decision of the Supreme Court on the AIFF constitution on July 18.

Newer teams from different parts of the country will also participate in the tournament, including South United FC from Bengaluru, 1ladakh of the Union Territory, and Diamond Harbor Football Club from West Bengalen.

All three teams of the Indian armed forces, navy and air force pulls return, just like the Indo-Tibetan border police (ITBP). The Border Security Force and the Nepal army will probably also participate in the schedule.

The entire line-up will contain 24 teams that are divided into six groups, and the third oldest football tournament in the world is played in West Bengal, Jharkhand, Manipur, Meghalaya and Assam.

Confirmed teams:

• Eastern Bengal

• Mohun Bagan Super Giant

• Punjab FC

• JAMSHEDPUR FC

• Northeast United FC

• Mohammedan Sporting

• South United FC

• 1ladakh

• Diamond Harbor Football Club

• Bodoland FC

• Real Kashmir

• Namdari FC

• Indian army

• Indian Marine

• Indian Air Force

• Indo-Tibetan border police

• Indonesia Army

• Shillong Lajong FC

Probably additions:

• Nepal -army

• Border security power

• Train

• Neroca

On Friday, the tournament held its flag ceremony, with President Droupadi Murmu unveiling the trophies in Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.

«I am happy to participate in this tradition of revealing the Durand Cup trophies. It is the oldest football tournament in Asia, with top teams participating,» she said.

«This year it will be held in East and Northeast India, where football is a cultural identity. Football learns strategy and endurance. A compliment to the forces to support it.»

List of Durand Cup 2025 locations

• Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata

• Kishore Bharti Krirangan, Kolkata

• JRD Tata Sports Complex, Jamshedpur or Morhabadi Stadium, Ranchi

• Khuman Lampak Stadium, Imphal

• Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium, Shillong

• Sai

The event was also attended by the Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) of the Indian forces, Anil Chauhan; The head of the Indian army, Upendra Dwivedi; the head of the Indian Air Force, air chef Marshal Amar Preet Singh; and the head of the Indian Marine, Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi.