India, July 24 -- Durand Cup, the oldest football competition in Asia, returns with its 135th edition, with historic rivals - East Bengal and Mohun Bagan - facing off in the curtain-raiser. The tournament, featuring both Indian Super League and lower-tier teams, kicks off at the iconic Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Salt Lake, Kolkata, this weekend. With the Indian Armed Forces in charge, the Durand Cup 2026 will be taking place across six venues across the country.

This year, 24 teams, including a foreign side, Sri Lanka's Defenders FC, will be vying for the silverware. They are divided into six groups with four teams each. The toppers from all groups, along with the two best second-placed sides, advance to the knockouts, schedul...