India, July 24 -- The 135th edition of the Durand Cup, Asia's oldest and the world's third-oldest football competition, is set to begin on Saturday, July 25, with an electrifying Kolkata Derby between Mohun Bagan and East Bengal. The tournament will run until August 23 and feature 24 teams from across Indian football, including clubs from the Indian Super League (ISL), I-League, I-League 2, the Indian Armed Forces and Sri Lanka's Defenders FC.

Organised by the Indian Armed Forces, the Durand Cup serves as the traditional curtain-raiser to the Indian domestic football season. Matches will be played across six venues in four states before culminating with the final at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata.

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