Which is the oldest football tournament in India?

It is believed that football was introduced in India by British soldiers in the mid-nineteenth century. However, it was not until the late 1880s that a formal tournament was organised. 

In 1888, the Durand Cup was first held in Shimla, India. The tournament was founded by Sir Henry Mortimer Durand, who served as the Foreign Secretary of India from 1884 to 1894.

While recuperating from an illness in Shimla, Sir Henry recognized the value of sports in maintaining health and decided to encourage sporting competition in India by presenting a prize.

MORE: When does Durand Cup 2023 start? Teams, fixtures and how to watch

Thus, the Durand Cup came into existence but was restricted to various departments and regiments of the armed forces of British India and the United Kingdom.

It is widely regarded as the oldest existing club football tournament not only in India but in Asia and the third oldest existing national football competition in the world after the FA Cup & the Scottish Cup.

How has the Durand Cup evolved over the years?

During the British Raj, the Durand Cup was primarily a military affair, open to teams from the British Armed Forces and the Indian Army.

In 1940, it was shifted to New Delhi, the Indian capital. After India gained independence in 1947, the armed forces continued to participate, with teams representing the three services of the Indian Armed Forces.

The Chief of Defence Staff serves as the president of DFTS, while the Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, and Chief of Air Staff serve as the vice presidents of the society.

Over the years, civilian football clubs also started participating now the tournament serves as the opener for the Indian football season. All Indian Super League clubs have been mandated to participate in the competition which has further made it exciting to watch. 

Since the last two years, the Durand Cup has served as a season opener for Indian football.

When does Durand Cup 2023 start?

The 132nd edition of the Durand Cup will kick off on August 3 and will conclude a month later on September 3. 

What are the venues of the 2023 Durand Cup?

Along with Kolkata, Meghalaya’s capital Shillong, Assam’s Kokrajhar and Guwahati will be the venues for this year's tournament.

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Who are the reigning champions of the Durand Cup? 

In the 2022 edition, Bengaluru FC claimed the championship. Led by Sunil Chhetri, the team emerged triumphant by securing a close 2-1 win against Mumbai City FC in the final with N. Sivasakthi and Alan Costa scoring for the victors. 

Who are the most successful teams in Durand Cup?

The most successful teams are Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, who have won the Durand Cup 16 times each.

The green and maroon brigade also hold the record for winning it three consecutive times, twice in their history - 1963, 1964, 1965 and 1984, 1985, 1986. 

Which teams are playing in 2023 Durand Cup?

2023 Durand Cup: Groups

What are the Durand Cup 2023 fixtures?

Group A Fixtures

Group B Fixtures

 Group C Fixtures

 Group D Fixtures
 

 Group E Fixtures

Group F Fixtures

Durand Cup 2023 Quarter-Final Fixtures

Durand Cup 2023 Semi-Final Fixtures

Durand Cup 2023 Final

Which venues will host 2023 Durand Cup?

Kolkata - Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK), Kishore Bharati Krirangan (KBK), East Bengal Ground (EBG), Mohun Bagan Ground (MBG)

Guwahati - Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium (IGAS)

Kokrajhar - Sports Authority of India (SAI) Stadium

How to watch Durand Cup 2023 in India?

All matches of the Durand Cup 2023 will be televised by Sony Sports Network and can be streamed live on SonyLiv.