Indian football fans can look forward to the best way to kick off the new domestic season with the two arch-rivals, East Bengal FC and Mohun Bagan Super Giants, drawn in Group A to face each other in the very first match of the 135th Durand Cup.
The Durand Cup is the oldest tournament in Indian football and has a long and storied legacy that goes back over 100 years. With the opening of the 2026 Durand Cup taking place on July 25, this will add to the excitement of this old rivalry.
A High-Stakes Group Stage Collision
The much-anticipated Kolkata Derby is set to be played out in the 5 PM (IST) opener at the famous Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Krirangan. The opener sees Indian Super League defending champions East Bengal square off against record 17-time Durand Cup champions Mohun Bagan.
Underdogs CISF Protectors and South United FC might be contenders for the upset but the attention will be on the Kolkata giants, who come into the tournament as favorites to go all the way to the final in August.
Turning Tides and Tactical Tests
Previously, matches between these two sides in the Durand Cup have been extremely close and a mere touch of luck has often crowned the winner. But the tide is apparently turning in favor of the Red and Gold Brigade. East Bengal at the same time revealed great tactical maturity in their last ISL competition, as they almost defeated Mohun Bagan in a fiercely fought draw with Edmund Lalrindika scoring first for the visitors before Jason Cummings leveled.
As both teams are presently very much experimenting with new tactics under their new bosses, this game of the highest stakes is a great opportunity for the players to get ready for the long league season. It is anticipated that a huge number of spectators will gather in the stadium and initiate a wave of heat for the oldest football tournament of Asia.
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