Durand Cup 2025 Kicks Off in Kolkata: East Bengal vs South United in Tournament Opener
- Pixel Sports Football Desk
- Jul 22
- 2 min read
134th edition of the Durand Cup 2025 is all set to commence on Wednesday, July 23, at Kolkata’s Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium). The opening match will witness East Bengal facing South United FC, marking the official beginning of Asia’s oldest football tournament.
East Bengal, a legacy powerhouse in the Indian football scene, will carry the weight of their impressive history, having lifted the Durand Cup a record 16 times. The Red and Gold Brigade are expected to launch a determined campaign after falling short in the quarterfinals last year. With head coach Oscar Bruzon now in charge and a bolstered squad, East Bengal enters the competition as one of the early favourites in Group A, which also features Namdhari FC and Indian Air Force FT.
Their opponents in the curtain-raiser, South United FC, may be debutants in the Durand Cup, but the Bengaluru-based club is no stranger to competitive football. Founded in 2012, South United have carved a niche through their youth development programs and consistent performances in the BDFA Super Division and I-League 2nd Division. Known for their grassroots focus and energetic playing style, the team will look to make a statement against the seasoned East Bengal side.
The match will kick off at 5:30 PM IST and will be broadcast live on the Sony Sports Network, with streaming available on Sony LIV.
Adding grandeur to the occasion, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is expected to attend the opening ceremony, setting the tone for what promises to be a memorable edition of the tournament.
The 2025 edition of the Durand Cup will see 24 teams participating, including six Indian Super League (ISL) teams — East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, Mohammedan SC, NorthEast United FC, Jamshedpur FC, and Punjab FC. The absence of several ISL sides this year has been attributed to uncertainty regarding the ISL season schedule. However, the tournament still boasts a highly competitive field, with clubs from the I-League, I-League 2, and Services teams also in the fray.
International representation comes from Tribhuvan Army FC of Nepal and a combined Malaysian Armed Forces team, both adding diversity to the group stage.
The matches will be played across five host cities — Kolkata (hosting two groups), Jamshedpur, Shillong, Kokrajhar, and Imphal. The league stage will determine eight teams (six group winners and two best runners-up) that will progress to the quarterfinals.
Click here to get full fixtures.
