Durand Cup 2022: All You Need to Know about India's Oldest Football Tournament

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posted on 2 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

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Here are the start time, groups, teams and where to watch on TV and live Streaming for the 131st edition of the historic Durand Cup

The 131st edition of the historic Durand Cup begins on August 16. Asia’s oldest football tournament signifies the beginning of the football season in India. The tournament opener will be played at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata and the final will be held on September 18 at the same venue.

The competition’s future iteration will pit 20 teams (eleven ISL teams, five I-League teams, and four teams from the Indian Armed Forces) competing for the coveted title. All the teams have been divided into four groups, each comprising five teams.

This year’s edition will be held across three cities: Kolkata, Guwahati and Imphal. Group A and B matches will be held in Kolkata, while Group C and D matches will be conducted in Imphal and Guwahati.

History of the Tournament

Mortimer Durand, the former Foreign Secretary of British India, founded the Durand Cup in 1888. It was initially played only amongst the armed services but was later opened for professional football clubs as well.

The Durand Cup Football Tournament Society organizes the annual event in association with the All India Football Federation (AIFF). The winner receives three trophies: the Durand Cup, the President’s Cup, and the Shimla Trophy.

With 16 championships each, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal are the most successful clubs in the Durand Cup. FC Goa are the defending champions and became the first Indian Super League (ISL) side to win it in 2021.