The 2025 edition of the Durand Cup, Asia’s oldest football tournament, will be held from July 23 to August 23 across six venues in five Indian states, the organisers announced on Sunday. This year’s competition continues the tournament’s tradition of regional diversity while cementing its growing national footprint.
The selected venues for this edition include the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan and Kishore Bharti Krirangan in Kolkata, West Bengal; the JRD Tata Sports Complex in Jamshedpur or alternatively the Morhabadi Stadium in Ranchi, Jharkhand; Khuman Lampak Stadium in Imphal, Manipur; Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium in Shillong, Meghalaya; and SAI Stadium in Kokrajhar, Assam.
This geographical spread not only reflects the expanding popularity of the century-old tournament but also reinforces its role as a unifier across football-loving regions. Imphal makes a return as a host after two years, while Kokrajhar continues its run for a third consecutive edition. Jamshedpur and Shillong, both introduced as venues last year, also retain their positions.
North East United FC enters the 2025 tournament as the defending champion, having stunned record title-holders Mohun Bagan Super Giant in a dramatic final last year. The win marked North East United’s maiden Durand Cup triumph, further enhancing the competitive unpredictability that the tournament has come to be known for in recent years.
Kolkata, which became the tournament’s permanent home base in 2019 after the shift from Delhi, will continue to hold that status for a sixth straight year. The city’s historic association with football and its enthusiastic fan base make it a natural choice for anchoring the prestigious event.
The Durand Cup is uniquely organised by the Eastern Command of the Indian Army, representing all three Services. It serves as a platform where military and civilian teams clash on the same turf, with the tournament regularly featuring top-tier Indian football clubs and, in recent years, foreign army teams as well.
The inclusion of both traditional football strongholds and emerging centres highlights the tournament’s continued evolution. With the 2025 edition promising exciting matchups and diverse venues, fans across the country can look forward to another chapter in the rich legacy of the Durand Cup.
