Shillong, Aug 14: For the fifth time in four editions of the Durand Cup Shillong Lajong FC will face NorthEast United FC, this time in the quarterfinals of the 2026 edition at the JN Stadium here on 17th August.
Lajong qualified for the QFs at the top of Group E, while NEUFC were the best in Group F.
All four previous meetings between these two sides in the Durand Cup have gone to NorthEast United and they will be tough to beat – indeed no one has defeated them since 2023; NEUFC have won back-to-back Durand Cup titles in 2024 and 2025.
Lajong were still fresh from regaining promotion to the I-League (now Indian Football League) in 2023 when they were thrashed by NorthEast United 4-0 that season. An improved performance in 2024 saw the Reds reach the semifinals but they were knocked out by NEUFC. There were then two collisions in 2025 – first in the group stage and then in the semis.
This year NEUFC won all three of their group games in Guwahati against Bodoland FC, Karbi Anglong Morningstar FC and FC1 of Srinagar. Lajong, on the other hand, beat Nongkseh SSCC and Mumbay FC before drawing with Langsning FC last night.
The first quarterfinal will take place in Ranchi’s Birsa Munda Football Stadium on 16th August between SC Delhi and FC Raengdai at 4PM. While the former topped Group C, the latter were winners in Group D.
The same day, at 7PM, Indian Army will take on East Bengal at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata. The Army team were the winners of Group B while East Bengal were the best second-placed team; they had competed in Group A.
East Bengal were second in the group stage to Mohun Bagan, who will be involved in the third quarterfinal at the same venue in Kolkata on 17th August at 4PM against Jamshedpur FC, the second-best second-placed team, who were in Group C.
After that will come the Lajong-NorthEast United clash at 7PM in Shillong.
Playing on their home turf hasn’t yet favoured SLFC against the Highlanders – three of those four defeats have been in Shillong – but there is a first time for everything. While NorthEast United are two-time champions, Lajong have also been semifinalists in two successive editions, so going out in only the quarterfinals will be unsatisfactory for either team.
(Durand Cup file photo from 2025)
