Durand Cup 2025 to go ahead as planned; Seven new teams set to participate
The tournament will kick off on July 23rd.Amid growing concerns about the 2025–26 Indian Super League (ISL) season, the Durand Cup 2025 will move forward as scheduled. Organised by the Indian Army, Asia’s oldest football tournament will welcome eight new teams, filling the void left by ISL clubs unable to participate due to ongoing uncertainty over the Master Rights Agreement (MRA) between AIFF and FSDL.As reported by Khel Now last month, seven ISL clubs formally informed the organisers that they would be unable to commit to the tournament due to delayed pre-season plans and uncertainty surrounding the ISL calendar.Indian Army steps up to sustain tournament legacyIn response, the Indian Army has opened the door to younger clubs and new entrants, ensuring the 134th edition of the tournament remains a competitive and meaningful tournament.“The Durand Cup legacy is 137 years old, and the Indian Army have always worked to provide a high-quality platform for Indian clubs—with prize money, live broadcasts, and a proper cup format, unlike the Super Cup,” said a source close to the situation.To further raise the tournament’s appeal, the organisers are also planning to increase the prize pool.2024 prize pool and formatIn 2024, the total prize pool stood at ₹1 crore, with:Champions receiving ₹60 lakhreceiving ₹60 lakh Runners-up earning ₹30 lakhearning ₹30 lakh Individual awards make up the remaining ₹10 lakhThe revised structure for 2025 is expected to offer significantly more, making it more attractive to participating clubs.Which ISL clubs are out—and who’s in?The following ISL clubs have withdrawn from the 2025 edition:FC GoaBengaluru FCChennaiyin FCOdisha FCKerala BlastersMumbai CityHyderabad FC / FC DelhiMohun Bagan**As of the time of writing this article, the status of Mohun Bagan’s participation is yet to be confirmed.However, several ISL sides have confirmed participation:East BengalJamshedpur FCNorthEast UnitedMohammedan SCPunjab FCTo maintain the tournament’s format, the organisers have extended invitations to new clubs and institutional teams, including forces teams from neighbouring regions.New teams in Durand Cup 2025The new entrants include:1 Ladakh FC – The first club from the Ladakh region to participate in the Durand Cup– The first club from the Ladakh region to participate in the Durand Cup Real Kashmir FCNamdhari SCITBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Police)South United FCAdditional clubs to be confirmed soonGrand launch on July 4The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu unveiled and flagged off the Trophies of the Durand Cup Tournament 2025 at a function held at Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre today (July 4, 2025).The Durand Cup trophies were unveiled and flagged off on 4th July in a grand ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, led by the President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu. The official list of teams and tournament groups is expected to be announced later this week.This is a developing story; stay tuned for the updates.Is the Durand Cup 2025 happening? Yes, the Durand Cup 2025 is happening. When is Durand Cup 2025 starting? Durand Cup 2025 is starting on July 23rd. What are the venues of Durand Cup 2025? The venues of Durand Cup 2025 are Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Kolkata), Kishore Bharti Krirangan (Kolkata), JRD Tata Sports Complex (Jamshedpur) or Morhabadi Stadium (Ranchi), Khuman Lampak Stadium (Imphal), Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium (Shillong), and SAI Stadium (Kokrajhar). Which ISL teams are playing the Durand Cup 2025? East Bengal, Jamshedpur FC, NorthEast United, Mohammedan SC, and Punjab FC have confirmed their participation in Durand Cup 2025. Which ISL teams are not playing the Durand Cup 2025? FC Goa, Bengaluru FC, Chennaiyin FC, Odisha FC, Kerala Blasters, Hyderabad FC / FC Delhi, and Mumbai City are not playing Durand Cup 2025For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.
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