Durand Cup 2019
The2019 Durand Cupwill be the 129th edition of theDurand Cup, oldest football tournament in Asia, since the tournament's founding in 1888. 16 teams will compete in the tournament. The matches will be played across three locations inWest Bengal stateKolkata,HowrahandKalyaniin 5 different stadiums namelyEast Bengal Ground,Mohun Bagan Ground,Kalyani Stadium,Howrah Stadium andSalt Lake Stadiumfrom 2nd August 2019. This will be for the second time that the tournament will be played outsideNew Delhi, its traditional venue. The final will take place at theSalt Lake Stadiumon 24th August 2019. The tournament is India's oldest football competition.
After a nearly three-year exodus, theDurand Cupis set to make its return to the Indian football calendar. The oldest and widely regarded as one of Indias most prestigious tournaments, its created some unforgettable moments in its 131-year-old history. While it was momentarily discontinued in 2016 due to some internal issues, the iconic competitions been revived with a twist. Instead of taking place in Delhi, itll take place in Kolkata in this edition. This year's edition will see a healthy range ofI-League,Indian Super League(ISL) and Army teams competing for the prestigious tournament before the regular season kicks off. There will be four groups, out of which one winner will progress into the semi-finals and beyond.
The group games will be in a round-robin format and the top team from each group will progress to the semi-finals. Group A winner will play Group D winner and Group B winner will take on Group C winner in the semi-finals.
Durand Cup 2019 Full Schedule
It is the 129th edition of the iconic Durand Cup. This edition will see teams from the I-league lock horns with armed forces sides. A total of 13 sides would take part in the prestigious event. The opening match will see two heavyweights Mohan Bagan lock horns with Mohammadan Sporting. Also for the first time since the inception of the league, it has shifted base from Delhi to Kolkata. The tourney will take place from August 2-24 in Kolkata's iconic Yuba Bharti Krirangan Stadium and other Kolkata stadiums. The Durand Cup is the third oldest league in the world.
| Date | Team 1 | Time (IST) | Team 2 |
| 2 August 2019 | Mohun Bagan | 18:00 | Mohammedan |
| Date | Team 1 | Time (IST) | Team 2 |
| 3 August 2019 | East Bengal | 15:00 | Army Red |
| Date | Team 1 | Time (IST) | Team 2 |
| 5 August 2019 | Indian Navy | 18:30 | ATK |
| Date | Team 1 | Time (IST) | Team 2 |
| 5 August 2019 | Bengaluru FC | 15:00 | Army Red |
| Date | Team 1 | Time (IST) | Team 2 |
| 8 August 2019 | Goa | 18:00 | Army Green |
| Date | Team 1 | Time (IST) | Team 2 |
| 8 August 2019 | Mohun Bagan | 15:00 | ATK |
| Date | Team 1 | Time (IST) | Team 2 |
| 8 August 2019 | Gokulam Kerala | 15:00 | Chennaiyin |
| Date | Team 1 | Time (IST) | Team 2 |
| 9 August 2019 | Jamshedpur | 15:00 | Army Red |
| Date | Team 1 | Time (IST) | Team 2 |
| 9 August 2019 | TRAU | 15:00 | Indian Air Force |
| Date | Team 1 | Time (IST) | Team 2 |
| 10 August 2019 | Army Green | 15:00 | Real Kashmir |
| Date | Team 1 | Time (IST) | Team 2 |
| 10 August 2019 | Mohammedan | 15:00 | Indian Navy |
| Date | Team 1 | Time (IST) | Team 2 |
| 14 August 2019 | Indian Air Force | 15:00 | Gokulam Kerala |
| Date | Team 1 | Time (IST) | Team 2 |
| 14 August 2019 | East Bengal | 18:00 | Bengaluru |
| Date | Team 1 | Time (IST) | Team 2 |
| 14 August 2019 | Chennai City | 15:00 | Goa |
| Date | Team 1 | Time (IST) | Team 2 |
| 16 August 2019 | Chennaiyin | 15:00 | TRAU |
| Date | Team 1 | Time (IST) | Team 2 |
| 16 August 2019 | Mohammedan | 15:00 | ATK |
| Date | Team 1 | Time (IST) | Team 2 |
| 17 August 2019 | Bengaluru | 15:00 | Jamshedpur |
| Date | Team 1 | Time (IST) | Team 2 |
| 17 August 2019 | Goa | 15:00 | Real Kashmir |
| Date | Team 1 | Time (IST) | Team 2 |
| 17 August 2019 | Mohun Bagan | 15:00 | Indian Navy |
| Date | Team 1 | Time (IST) | Team 2 |
| 18 August 2019 | TRAU | 15:00 | Gokulam Kerala |
| Date | Team 1 | Time (IST) | Team 2 |
| 18 August 2019 | Chennai City | 15:00 | Indian Air Force |
| Date | Team 1 | Time (IST) | Team 2 |
| 18 August 2019 | Chennaiyin | 15:00 | Army Green |
The group stage games begin from 2nd of August, Durand Cup Schedule is planned in such a way that all the Group games will be played between 2nd of August to 18th of August. The games will be played in 5 venues and all the games begin at 15:00 IST.
Semi Final: 20 August
Semi Final 1
| Date | Team 1 | Time (IST) | Team 2 |
| 20 August 2019 | TBD | 15:00 | TBD |
Semi Final 2
| Date | Team 1 | Time (IST) | Team 2 |
| 20 August 2019 | TBD | 19:30 | TBD |
The winner of each group will directly qualify for the Semi-Final, so, Group, A winner will play the first semi-final against Group D winner on 20th of August at 15:00 IST and Group B winner will face Group C winner on the same day at 18:00 IST as per the Durand Cup Schedule for the Semifinal games.
Durand Cup Final: 24 August
| Date | Team 1 | Time (IST) | Team 2 |
| 24 August 2019 | Semi Final 1 Winner | TBD | Semi Final 2 winner |
Semifinal 1 winner will play semi-final 2 winners in the Durand Cup Final on 24th of August at 18:00 IST
Venue
The City of Joy will host this three-week-long tournament, with matches taking place at theSalt Lake Stadium,Mohun Bagan Ground,East Bengal Ground, Kanchenjunga Stadium andKalyani Stadium.
Read More: AIFF vs I-League: All you need to know about the ongoing tussle
