The historic Durand Cup is returning to Jamshedpur for the second consecutive year, marking the 134th edition of Asia's oldest football tournament. Football enthusiasts in Jamshedpur can anticipate another exciting season of high-level competition, with matches scheduled from July 18 to August 23, 2025.
To commemorate the event, the three prestigious Durand Cup trophies—the original Durand Cup, the Shimla Trophy, and the President's Cup—are being showcased throughout the city. A grand unveiling ceremony was held at the XLRI Auditorium on July 7, 2025, with Santosh Gangwar, the Governor of Jharkhand, as the Chief Guest. Other distinguished guests included Sudivya Kumar, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sports & Youth Affairs, Government of Jharkhand; Ramdas Soren, Minister of School Education and Literacy, Government of Jharkhand; Lt Gen Mohit Malhotra, AVSM, SM, Chief of Staff HQ Eastern Command and Chairman DCOC; and DB Sundara Ramam, Vice President-Corporate Services, Tata Steel.
Following the unveiling, the trophies embarked on a city-wide roadshow, visiting key landmarks such as Mango Bus Stand, Sakchi Circle, and JUSCO Circle, before being displayed at the JRD Tata Sports Complex, the venue for the matches. The tour continues on July 8, with displays at Jubilee Park, Tata Motors, Tatanagar Railway Station, and P&M Mall, allowing fans across the city to witness the grandeur of the trophies.
Governor Gangwar hailed the event as a proud moment for Jharkhand, emphasizing its potential to boost the state's sports culture, energize tourism, and inspire youth. He acknowledged the enthusiasm for sports in Jharkhand's villages and highlighted national initiatives like Khelo India and TOPS, along with the National Sports Policy 2025, as key drivers for India's global sports ambitions.
The Durand Cup, officially known as the Durand Football Tournament, has a rich history dating back to 1888 when it began in Shimla as a competition among Indian armed forces departments and princely states. Named after its founder, Sir Henry Mortimer Durand, the tournament is organized by the Durand Football Society in association with the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
This year's tournament will feature a mix of Indian Super League (ISL) teams, I-League sides, services teams, and potentially a few youth or international outfits. Matches will be held across six venues in West Bengal, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, and Jharkhand. While the opening match is expected to be held in Shillong, Jamshedpur is gearing up to host its share of the tournament, promising a thrilling experience for football fans and a boost to regional talent. NorthEast United will enter the tournament as the defending champion.
