134th Durand Cup: Fixtures out; East Bengal set to begin against South United

The 134th edition of the Durand Cup will kick off on July 23, with East Bengal FC facing Bengaluru-based South United FC (SUFC) at the iconic Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan here in a Group A fixture.

- STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE

The fixture marks the official start of a thrilling month-long campaign that will feature 43 matches across six cities, culminating in the final on August 23rd.

The fixtures and groups for the tournament were officially announced on Monday, setting the stage for a summer of high-stakes football and spirited rivalries. The group stage comprises six groups of four teams each, with every group playing six matches.

Six group winners and two best second-placed teams will progress to the quarterfinals, which are set to be held on August 16 and 17. The semifinals are scheduled for August 19 and 20, leading up to the grand finale on August 23. The venues for the knockout rounds will be announced in due course.

Kolkata will host two groups, Group A and Group B. Following the East Bengal opener, the Indian Air Force Football Team and I-League side Namdhari FC will play their first match against SUFC on July 27 and July 30, respectively.