Domestic season opener Durand Cup football tournament will be held from July 27 to August 31 across four venues with Indian Super League, I-League and other invitational teams competing in it. (More Football News)
The 133rd edition of the Asia's oldest tour🎀nament will have 43 matches to be played in a round-robin league-cum-knockout format, with the opening match and t𓂃he final scheduled at the iconic Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK) in Kolkata.
The 24 participating✱ teams will be divided into six groups. Eight teams -- group toppers and two best second-placed sides -- will qualify for the knockout stage.
Like last year, international teams are expected to participate this♕ year too, the organisers said on Tuesday.
Continuing with its commitment to spread the tournament further into the East and North-East, two new cities -- Jamshedpur a𒁏nd Shillong -- have been adde♌d as host venues this year.
Matches will be held in Kokrajhar in A𝓀ssam for the second consecutive year, besides Kolkata, whi🍷ch has been a host for the last five years.
Kolkata will host three g🀅roups while Kokrajhar, Shillong and Jamshedpur will host one group each🍸.
♐ISL side Mohun Bagan Super Giant are the defending champions, having won the tournament for a record 17th time, the most by any team.
