Durand Cup 2023

The Durand Cup is a national football tournament organised annually in India. It was established in 1888 and the first tournament was played in Shimla. The tournament gets its name from its founder, Sir Henry Mortimer Durand. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) organises the Durand Cup in association with the football association called the Durand Football Tournament Society (DFTS). The Durand Cup is the oldest national football competition in Asia. Globally, it is the 5th oldest football tournament. 

Initially, only regiments and departments of Armed forces could participate in the tournament. Now any national team is allowed to take part in the football championship. Teams can participate in the Durand Cup through Invitations from the Armed forces as well.

20 teams can participate in the tournament. The Durand Cup has two rounds called the Round Robin and Knockouts. Each team is allowed to have 30 players at most. Unlike any other football championship in the world, the winner of the Durand Football Tournament receives three trophies: The Durand Cup or the Masterpiece (the primary trophy), the Shimla Trophy or the Artistry (given by the locals of Shimla to express their solidarity for the tournament) and the President’s Cup or the Pride (a rotating trophy which replaced the Viceroy’s Trophy after the Independence of India).

The Durand Cup 2023 will start today, August 3, with 24 competing teams. This is the 132nd edition of the tournament. All the teams have been divided into 6 groups (Group A to Group F) consisting of 4 teams each. The first match will be played between Mohun Bagan SG and Bangladesh Army FT. The knockout matches will be played in Kolkata. One quarter-final each will be hosted by Kokrajhar and Guwahati.