Shillong, Jul 1: Three city-based clubs – Shillong Lajong FC, Nongkseh SSCC and Langsning FC – have been included in the Shillong group of the Durand Cup 2026, along with one entrant from Maharashtra: Mumbay FC.
Lajong were semifinalists last year, losing to eventual champions NorthEast United FC. Nongkseh and Langsning were invited to participate this year for the first time after finishing as champions and runners-up of the Meghalaya State League. Mumbay are a pretty new club, having been launched only in 2024, and they featured in I-League 3 earlier this year.
Shillong’s matches will take place, as in the previous two years, at the JN Stadium in Polo Ground. The group matches will begin on 31st July and the venue will also hold a quarterfinal and a semifinal.
The top team from each group plus the two best second-placed teams will qualify for the quarters.
NEUFC played their group games here last year but this time they will be in action in Guwahati at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, where they play their home Indian Super League matches. The Guwahati fixtures will begin from 1st August. The other participating teams are FC 1 (from Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh), Bodoland FC and Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC.
The other host cities are Kolkata (which gets two groups), Ranchi and Imphal.
Kolkata’s matches will be held at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan and the Kishore Bharati Krirangan, including the opener on 25th July and the final on 23rd August.
The exact groupings haven’t been revealed for Kolkata but the teams comprise 17-time champions Mohun Bagan, 16-time winners East Bengal, Mohammedan SC, South United FC, CISF, Indian Army, Baghpat FC and Samaleswari Sporting.
Making its debut as a Durand Cup host, Ranchi’s matches at the Birsa Munda Stadium will feature local team Jamshedpur FC, Sporting Club Delhi, Indian Air Force and debutants Defenders FC of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces.
The Imphal group games will be held at the Khuman Lampak Stadium featuring three local sides – TRAU, NEROCA, debutants FC Raengdai – and Indian Navy.
The four quarterfinals will be hosted in Kolkata, Ranchi and Shillong, while Shillong and Kolkata will host one semifinal each before the tournament concludes with the final in Kolkata on 23rd August.
(File photo of Langsning and Nongkseh)