By Our Reporter
Shillong, June 26: Shillong will once again be among the host cities for the prestigious 135th IndianOil Durand Cup, which is scheduled to be held from July 25 to August 23, with the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium set to stage matches in Asia’s oldest football tournament.
The organisers on Thursday announced that the tournament will feature 24 teams, including two foreign sides, with matches spread across six venues in five cities — Kolkata, Ranchi, Guwahati, Imphal and Shillong. Ranchi will make its debut as a host city this year.
The Durand Cup, organised by the Eastern Command of the Indian Army on behalf of the three Services, has grown significantly since shifting its base to eastern and northeastern India in 2019. The competition has expanded from 16 to 24 teams and continues to provide a platform for leading Indian clubs, Services teams and promising young footballers from across the country.
Shillong has emerged as one of the tournament’s key venues in recent years, reflecting Meghalaya’s rich football culture and passionate fan base. The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium will once again welcome top domestic clubs as the tournament returns to the state.
The organisers said details of the participating teams, groupings and fixtures will be announced later. Defending champions NorthEast United FC will be among the teams vying for the coveted title, with the final scheduled for August 23.
