Durand Cup 2026 will begin on July 25, with Ranchi debuting as the host city

The 2026 Durand Cup will be held between July 25 and August 23 and will bring together 24 teams, including two foreign teams, across five host cities, the organizing committee announced on Thursday.

The tournament will be hosted by Kolkata, Ranchi, Guwahati, Imphal and Shillong, with Ranchi making its debut as a host city in the history of the competition.

The matches will be played at six venues, with Kolkata hosting the matches at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan and Kishore Bharati Krirangan, while Birsa Munda Stadium in Ranchi, Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati, Khuman Lampak Stadium in Imphal and Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong will serve as the other host venues.

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Featuring 24 teams, including two foreign teams, the tournament will once again bring together a diverse mix of leading Indian clubs, service teams and international talent. Details regarding the participating teams, groupings, fixtures and knockout schedule will be announced in due course, the release said.

NorthEast United FC are defending champions, having defeated Diamond Harbor 6-1 in the final of the 2025 edition.

Published on June 25, 2026