Durand Cup 2025: Indonesia Army, 1Ladakh among new teams; East Bengal, Mohun Bagan among six ISL clubs competing
Chennai
The 2025 Durand Cup is all set to proceed as scheduled, running from July 22 to August 23 across six venues in five states, with the Indonesian Army set to participate in the tournament for the first time.
The Durand Cup is the oldest tournament in Asia and is organised by the Indian Armed forces. Originally held in New Delhi, the tournament was shifted to West Bengal in 2019 and has since been hosted across the eastern part of India.
Initially, Indian Super League (ISL) clubs treated it as a pre-season tournament — since it is an invitational competition — and often fielded reserve sides.
In 2022, the AIFF made it mandatory for all clubs to participate. The next three editions were won by Bengaluru FC, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, and NorthEast United, respectively.
However, with the Master Rights Agreement between the ISL organisers — FSDL — and the AIFF ending in December and the future of the league uncertain, several clubs have withdrawn from the Durand Cup.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, Jamshedpur FC, NorthEast United FC, and Mohammedan Sporting — have confirmed their participation. However, Mohun Bagan’s team selection hinges on the Supreme Court’s decision on the AIFF constitution on July 18.
Newer teams from various parts of the country will also compete in the tournament, including South United FC from Bengaluru, 1Ladakh from the Union Territory, and Diamond Harbour Football Club from West Bengal.
All three teams from the Indian Armed Forces — Army, Navy, and Air Force — will return, as will the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). The Border Security Force and the Nepal Army are also likely to join the roster.
The full lineup will feature 24 teams divided into six groups, and the world’s third-oldest football tournament will be played across West Bengal, Jharkhand, Manipur, Meghalaya, and Assam.
Confirmed teams:
- East Bengal
- Mohun Bagan Super Giant
- Punjab FC
- Jamshedpur FC
- NorthEast United FC
- Mohammedan Sporting
- South United FC
- 1Ladakh
- Diamond Harbour Football Club
- Bodoland FC
- Real Kashmir
- Namdhari FC
- Indian Army
- Indian Navy
- Indian Air Force
- Indo-Tibetan Border Police
- Indonesia Army
- Shillong Lajong FC
Likely additions:
- Nepal Army
- Border Security Force
- TRAU
- NEROCA
On Friday, the tournament held its flag-off ceremony, with President Droupadi Murmu unveiling the trophies at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.
“I am happy to join this tradition of unveiling the Durand Cup trophies. It’s Asia’s oldest football tournament, with top teams participating,” she said.
“This year, it will be held in Eastern & North-East India, where football is a cultural identity. Football teaches strategy and endurance. Kudos to the armed forces for sustaining it.”
LIST OF DURAND CUP 2025 VENUES
- 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 Stadium, Kokrajhar
The event was also attended by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of the Indian Armed Forces, Anil Chauhan; the Chief of the Indian Army, Upendra Dwivedi; the Chief of the Indian Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh; and the Chief of the Indian Navy, Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi.
