Shillong, Jul 7: Local sides Shillong Lajong and Rangdajied United have been grouped with defending champions NorthEast United and one foreign army team in Group E of the 134th Durand Cup 2025, it was revealed today.
Fixtures of 134th Edition of Durand Cup 2025
Group E games will take place at the JN Stadium here, beginning on 26th July.
After a tremendous run in 2024’s edition, Lajong were ousted by NEUFC in the semifinals, with the Indian Super League club then going on to win the title over Mohun Bagan in Kolkata.
Rangdajied will also make a return to the Durand Cup; they were drafted in as last minute replacements last year after Hyderabad FC pulled out of the competition. The fourth team will be an army team from a foreign country, with some reports suggesting this will be from Indonesia.
The opening match of this year’s Durand Cup will be on 23rd July between East Bengal and the Bangalore-based South United FC in Kolkata.
The month-long tournament will feature 43 matches across six cities, culminating in the final on 23rd August.
The group stage comprises six groups of four teams each, with every group playing six matches. Six group winners and two best second-placed teams will progress to the quarterfinals, which are set to be held on 16th and 17th August. The semifinals will be held on 19th and 20th August. The venues for the knockout rounds will be announced in due course.
Kolkata will host two groups, A and B. Following the East Bengal opener, Indian Air Force and I-League side Namdhari FC will play their first match against SUFC on 27th July and 30th July respectively.
Group B action begins on 28th July, when Mohammedan SC takes on Diamond Harbour FC at Kishore Bharati Krirangan. All eyes will then turn to the Kolkata Derby between ISL champions Mohun Bagan and Mohammedan SC on 31st July at the same venue. The Border Security Force will play their first match against Diamond Harbour on 1st August.
Group C action kicks off in Jamshedpur on 24th July with hosts Jamshedpur FC facing Nepal’s Tribhuvan Army FT at the JRD Tata Sports Complex while Indian Army and 1 Ladakh FC play their first match on 29th July and 2nd August respectively.
Kokrajhar will host Group D, which consists of ISL club Punjab FC, I-League 3 side from Assam Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC, local side Bodoland FC and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police. ITBP will take on Karbi Anglong on 27th July in the opening match. Bodoland FC will play their first match on 31st July, while Punjab FC will play their opening match on 3rd August.
Group E opens in Shillong with home side Lajong meeting the foreign services team on 26th July. Defending champions NorthEast United, begin their title defence on 2nd August against the foreign team. The group will also see city rivals Lajong and Rangdajied take on each other in the Shillong Derby on 29th July.
In Manipur’s capital, Imphal, the Khuman Lampak Main Stadium will host the opening match of Group F on 30th July, a high-stakes local derby between I-League 2 sides TRAU FC and NEROCA FC. Indian Navy and I-League side Real Kashmir FC will start their Group F campaign on 2nd August.
The final group-stage fixture is scheduled for 12th August in Kokrajhar between Bodoland FC and ITBP.
(File photo)
