Durand Cup :Asia's oldest Football Tournament
Dritiv Barman
The Durand Cup, founded in 1888, is one of Asia's oldest football competitions and one of the world's oldest. It was instituted by Sir Mortimer Durand to encourage physical well-being and friendship between British and Indian soldiers. The inaugural tournament was played in Shimla. As time passed, it became an institution in Indian football, continuing to grow strong even as it remained suspended during the two World Wars.
The tournament moved to New Delhi in 1940, and civilian clubs were invited to join for the first time with Mohammedan Sporting Club being the inaugural non-military champions. When India gained independence, it was almost relocated to Lahore, but the move was cancelled, and the Durand Cup stayed in India. From 1950 until 2013, it took place in Delhi, and in 1958, H.M. Patel registered it under the Society Registration Act and established the Durand Football Society to popularize the tournament. It has been organized since 2019 by the Indian Army's Eastern Command under the AIFF and is open to all top clubs.
From the decades, the legendary clubs such as Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, and the Border Security Force (BSF) have left their imprint. While Indian football witnessed dramatic transformation with the emergence of the Indian Super League (ISL) and the I-League, the Durand Cup held its own strong revival courtesy of the Indian Army's attempts to regain its lost grandeur.
The tournament has experienced phenomenal editions in recent history. In 2019, the Indian Armed Forces and West Bengal Government co-hosted the event, with Gokulam Kerala FC winning the trophy. In 2024, NorthEast United FC beat heavyweights Mohun Bagan in the final, winning the championship and recording history in northeastern football.
The 134th edition of the Durand Cup in 2025 will be one of the biggest so far. Games will be held in five Indian states Assam, West Bengal, Manipur, Meghalaya, and Jharkhand, with Kokrajhar in Assam proving to be one of the top venues. The Kokrajhar matches will be played at the SAI Stadium, beginning with the first match on 27th July between Indian Army FT and Hyderabad FC. There is a busy fixture schedule thereafter: Bodoland FC vs Hyderabad FC on 31st July, Hyderabad FC vs Punjab FC on 3rd August, Indian Army FT vs Punjab FC on 6th August, and Bodoland FC vs Punjab FC on 9th August. The final group stage fixture of Kokrajhar , Bodoland FC vs Indian Army FT will be played on 12th August, while the quarter-final will be held on 16th August.Kokrajhar being the centre of the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), is not only welcoming matches it is welcoming the Durand Cup as a festival of football and pride of place. The town has witnessed fast-paced development of sports infrastructure, with the SAI Stadium being upgraded to national standards. To the local fans, it is not only a tournament; it's a chance to see best Indian clubs on the field and put Kokrajhar on the national football map. Local team Bodoland FC's participation has also boosted young interest in the game, stimulating new talent from the grassroots level. With good attendance anticipated and firm local support, Kokrajhar is expected to be one of the most memorable venue in Durand Cup history.