The 134th edition of the Durand Cup, Asia’s oldest football tournament, was officially flagged off by President Droupadi Murmu on July 4, 2025. Organized by the Indian Armed Forces along with the Durand Football Tournament Society and AIFF, the tournament aims to boost football culture and military camaraderie across the country.

Key Points:

• The Durand Cup 2025 will be held from July 23 to August 23, 2025, across five Indian states: West Bengal, Jharkhand, Assam, Meghalaya, and Manipur.
• 24 teams are participating, including six ISL clubs, Indian Armed Forces teams, and foreign military teams like the Malaysia Army.
• President Droupadi Murmu flagged off the trophies of Durand Cup, Shimla Trophy, and President’s Cup at Rashtrapati Bhavan, showcasing the national importance of the event.
• The tournament will feature six venues, with the final match scheduled on August 23, 2025, at Kolkata’s Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan.
• The Durand Cup, started in 1888, remains Asia’s oldest football competition and the fifth-oldest globally, emphasizing both sporting tradition and India’s defence heritage.