GUWAHATI: The Trophy Tour of the 135th IndianOil Durand Cup arrived in Guwahati on Thursday, July 16, ahead of the tournament's fifth consecutive edition in Assam.
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Organised by the Indian Army on behalf of the three Services, the Durand Cup is the oldest football tournament in Asia and the third-oldest in the world. The 2026 edition will feature Indian Super League clubs, leading domestic teams, Services sides, emerging clubs and international participation.
Seven teams will make their debut in the prestigious tournament, including Sri Lanka Armed Forces side Defenders FC, Nongkseh Sports, Social & Cultural Club from Meghalaya, Baghpat FC, Samaleswari Sporting, FC Raengdai, FC1 and Mumbay FC.
The Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati will host league-stage matches from August 1 to August 13. Defending champions NorthEast United FC will headline the Assam leg of the tournament alongside FC1, a team comprising players from Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, Bodoland FC and Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC.
Today's trophy unveiling ceremony was attended by Assam Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Biswajit Daimary; Maj Gen Dinesh Kumar Singh, GOC, Bengal Sub Area and Vice Chairman of the Durand Cup Organising Committee; Maj Gen Amit Dhir, Chief of Staff, Gajraj Corps; Brig Anupam Sharma, Commander, Invictus Brigade; Ankur Bharali, Director of the Sports and Youth Welfare Department, Government of Assam; and NorthEast United FC forward Parthib Gogoi, among others.
Addressing the gathering, Daimary reiterated Assam's commitment to strengthening football at the grassroots level while highlighting the significance of hosting the prestigious tournament.
"Football is deeply rooted in Assam's sporting culture, and hosting the Durand Cup is both a matter of pride and an opportunity to inspire the next generation. We must move beyond simply identifying talent to creating it through structured grassroots development, quality infrastructure and sustained institutional commitment,” he said.
The minister added that, along with world-class stadiums, Assam needs playgrounds and competitive opportunities that allow children to develop from an early age.
"If we continue to invest in our youth and work together with organisations like the Indian Army, I am confident that India can emerge as a stronger footballing nation," he said.
Maj Gen Dinesh Kumar Singh said the Durand Cup is not just about competition but also about inspiring young footballers across the Northeast and strengthening India's football ecosystem.
"Together with the Government of Assam and our partners, we remain committed to taking the game to every aspiring player, creating opportunities for local talent and nurturing the dream of seeing India compete on football's biggest stage," he said.
Representing defending champions NorthEast United FC, Parthib Gogoi reflected on the club's journey and looked ahead to the new campaign.
"Winning the Durand Cup taught us that success comes through resilience, hard work and belief. As defending champions, we know every season begins from zero, and we're excited to return to Guwahati, where the incredible support of our fans gives us the strength to keep striving for greater success," he said.
Following the ceremony, the Durand Cup, President's Cup and Shimla Trophy began a two-day tour across Guwahati, visiting prominent landmarks including the Assam Legislative Assembly, the Bir Lachit Borphukan statue on the banks of the Brahmaputra, IIT Guwahati and City Centre Mall, allowing football enthusiasts to view the three historic trophies ahead of the tournament.
Assam continues to play a pivotal role in the Durand Cup's modern journey, hosting the tournament since 2023.
The 135th IndianOil Durand Cup will be held from July 25 to August 23, across five host cities: Kolkata, Shillong, Imphal, Guwahati and Ranchi, with the Jharkhand capital making its debut as a host city.