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The 135th edition of the IndianOil Durand Cup has reached its closing stretch, and the picture at the top of most groups is now clear. Asia’s oldest football tournament has thrown up record margins, one of the tightest Kolkata derbies in recent memory, and a handful of newcomers making their mark on the biggest stage they have played on.
With the group stage winding down and the quarterfinals set for August 16 and 17, here is a full look at what has happened across every group, the results that shaped the standings, and who is already through.
Durand Cup 2026 Group Stage Format and Venues
Twenty four teams have been split into six groups of four. The group winners advance to the quarterfinals, alongside the two best second placed sides, making eight teams in the knockout stage.
The 2026 edition has been spread across five host cities. Kolkata has staged matches at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan and the Kishore Bharati Krirangan, Ranchi at the Birsa Munda Football Stadium, Imphal at the Khuman Lampak Main Stadium, Shillong at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and Guwahati at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium.
The knockout schedule runs quarterfinals on August 16 and 17, semifinals on August 19 and 20, and the final on August 23 at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata.
Group A: Mohun Bagan Perfect, East Bengal Left to Rue the Derby
Group A delivered the fixture everyone circled first, and it did not disappoint.
Results in full:
- July 25: East Bengal FC 0-1 Mohun Bagan Super Giant
- July 28: South United FC 2-0 CISF Protectors
- July 31: East Bengal FC 8-0 CISF Protectors
- August 4: Mohun Bagan Super Giant 8-0 South United FC
- August 7: East Bengal FC 5-0 South United FC
- August 10: Mohun Bagan Super Giant 6-0 CISF Protectors
The Kolkata derby opened the tournament on July 25 at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, and it was settled by a single moment. Sahal Abdul Samad struck early in the second half to give Mohun Bagan Super Giant a 1-0 win over East Bengal FC. It was a tight, cagey contest. Mohun Bagan had a first half penalty appeal for handball turned down, and both sides passed up chances before Sahal’s finish proved decisive. East Bengal pushed hard in the closing stages without finding a way through.
That one goal has defined the group. Both Kolkata giants went on to win their remaining two matches by heavy margins, but Mohun Bagan finished with a perfect record of three wins from three, 15 goals scored and not a single goal conceded. East Bengal, who put eight past CISF Protectors and five past South United FC, ended on 13 goals scored and just one conceded, but their solitary defeat came in the fixture that mattered most.
Group A final standings: Mohun Bagan Super Giant 9 points (goal difference +15, qualified), East Bengal FC 6 points (+12), South United FC 3 points (-11), CISF Protectors 0 points (-16).
East Bengal’s goal difference of +12 keeps them in strong contention for one of the two best runners up spots, which is now their route into the quarterfinals.
Group B: Indian Army FT and Samaleswari Sporting Level at the Top
Group B is the one group still wide open, with the decisive fixture falling on the final matchday.
Results in full:
- July 26: Indian Army FT 1-0 Samaleswari Sporting
- July 27: Mohammedan SC 4-0 Baghpat FC
- July 30: Samaleswari Sporting 4-1 Baghpat FC
- August 2: Mohammedan SC 2-3 Samaleswari Sporting
- August 5: Indian Army FT 4-0 Baghpat FC
- August 12: Mohammedan SC vs Indian Army FT
Indian Army FT have been quietly efficient, winning both their matches without conceding a goal. A narrow 1-0 win over Samaleswari Sporting was followed by a comfortable 4-0 win over Baghpat FC, leaving them on six points with a clean sheet record intact.
Samaleswari Sporting recovered from that opening defeat impressively. They beat Baghpat FC 4-1 and then pulled off the result of the group, coming from behind to beat Mohammedan Sporting Club 3-2 in an open contest at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan. That win moved them level with Indian Army FT on six points, though with an inferior goal difference of +3 against the Army’s +5.
Mohammedan Sporting Club, one of the more recognisable names in the competition, have blown hot and cold. They dismantled Baghpat FC 4-0 before losing that thriller to Samaleswari Sporting, leaving them on three points from two matches and needing a result against Indian Army FT on the final matchday.
Baghpat FC have found the step up difficult, losing all three of their matches and conceding 12 goals while scoring just one.
Group B standings entering the final matchday: Indian Army FT 6 points (+5), Samaleswari Sporting 6 points (+3), Mohammedan Sporting Club 3 points (+3), Baghpat FC 0 points (-11).
Group C: SC Delhi Sweep Through With 16 Goals
If any side has made a statement in this Durand Cup, it is SC Delhi.
Results in full:
- July 26: Jamshedpur FC 5-0 Defenders FC
- July 29: Indian Air Force FT 2-1 Defenders FC
- August 4: Jamshedpur FC 1-2 SC Delhi
- August 7: SC Delhi 7-0 Defenders FC
- August 10: SC Delhi 7-1 Indian Air Force FT
- August 13: Jamshedpur FC vs Indian Air Force FT
SC Delhi won all three of their group matches and scored 16 goals doing it. Their opening win was the most meaningful in competitive terms, a 2-1 victory over ISL side Jamshedpur FC at the Birsa Munda Football Stadium in Ranchi. They followed that with a 7-0 win over Defenders FC and a 7-1 win over Indian Air Force FT, the result that formally booked their quarterfinal place.
Jamshedpur FC opened their campaign with a 5-0 win over Defenders FC before that defeat to SC Delhi. They sit on three points from two matches, with a final group game against Indian Air Force FT on August 13 that will decide second place in the group.
Indian Air Force FT beat Defenders FC 2-1 before being on the receiving end of SC Delhi’s seven goal display. They are also on three points from two matches, though their goal difference of -5 leaves them well behind Jamshedpur FC’s +4.
Defenders FC, playing in their first Durand Cup, have lost all three matches and conceded 14 goals. The experience of competing on this stage will matter more to them than the results.
Group C standings: SC Delhi 9 points (+14, qualified), Jamshedpur FC 3 points (+4), Indian Air Force FT 3 points (-5), Defenders FC 0 points (-13).
Group D: FC Raengdai’s Perfect Start in Imphal
Group D has been the tightest of the lot in terms of goals, with every match played at the Khuman Lampak Main Stadium in Imphal.
Results in full:
- July 28: TRAU FC 0-0 NEROCA FC
- July 30: FC Raengdai 1-0 Indian Navy FT
- August 3: TRAU FC 3-4 FC Raengdai
- August 5: NEROCA FC 0-2 Indian Navy FT
- August 9: TRAU FC 2-1 Indian Navy FT
- August 12: NEROCA FC vs FC Raengdai
FC Raengdai have won both their matches and are already through. Their 1-0 win over Indian Navy FT was followed by the best match of the group, a 4-3 win over TRAU FC in a seven goal contest that swung both ways.
TRAU FC finished their campaign with a 2-1 win over Indian Navy FT, a result the organisers described as ending their tournament on a high. Their record of one win, one draw and one defeat leaves them on four points with a neutral goal difference.
Indian Navy FT beat NEROCA FC 2-0 in their only win, finishing on three points from three matches. NEROCA FC have had a difficult time in front of goal, failing to score in either of their matches so far, drawing 0-0 with TRAU FC and losing 2-0 to Indian Navy FT.
Group D standings: FC Raengdai 6 points (+2, qualified), TRAU FC 4 points (0), Indian Navy FT 3 points (0), NEROCA FC 1 point (-2).
Group E: Shillong Lajong Set the Pace at Home
Group E has been played entirely at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong, and the home crowd has had plenty to enjoy.
Results in full:
- July 31: Shillong Lajong FC 2-0 Nongkseh SS & CC
- August 3: Langsning FC 5-0 Mumbay FC
- August 6: Nongkseh SS & CC 2-2 Langsning FC
- August 8: Shillong Lajong FC 5-0 Mumbay FC
- August 11: Nongkseh SS & CC 7-0 Mumbay FC
- August 13: Shillong Lajong FC vs Langsning FC
Shillong Lajong FC have won both their matches without conceding, beating Nongkseh SS & CC 2-0 and Mumbay FC 5-0. They sit top on six points with a goal difference of +7 heading into a final matchday meeting with Langsning FC that will decide the group.
Langsning FC have made an eye catching debut in the competition, opening with a 5-0 win over Mumbay FC before drawing 2-2 with Nongkseh SS & CC. They are unbeaten on four points and will fancy their chances against Shillong Lajong FC.
Nongkseh SS & CC produced the biggest scoreline of the group, a 7-0 win over Mumbay FC on August 11. They have a win, a draw and a defeat from three matches, and the official standings list them on two points.
Mumbay FC have had the toughest time of any team in the tournament, losing all three matches and conceding 17 goals without scoring.
Group E standings: Shillong Lajong FC 6 points (+7), Langsning FC 4 points (+5), Nongkseh SS & CC 2 points (+5), Mumbay FC 0 points (-17).
Group F: NorthEast United Extend Their Unbeaten Run
Group F, played in Guwahati, has gone the way of the 2024 champions.
Results in full:
- August 1: NorthEast United FC 6-0 Bodoland FC
- August 3: Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC 1-2 FC 1
- August 6: Bodoland FC 3-0 FC 1
- August 8: NorthEast United FC 4-1 Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC
- August 11: NorthEast United FC 3-1 FC 1
- August 13: Bodoland FC vs Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC
NorthEast United FC have won all three of their matches, opening with a 6-0 win over Bodoland FC, following it with a 4-1 win over Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC, and sealing their quarterfinal spot with a 3-1 win over FC 1 on August 11. That result extended what the organisers have described as their unbeaten Durand Cup streak.
Bodoland FC bounced back from that heavy opening defeat with a 3-0 win over FC 1 and face Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC on the final matchday with second place still in play.
Durand Cup 2026 Group Stage Qualified Teams for Quarterfinals
Four teams have already secured their places in the Durand Cup 2026 quarterfinals: Mohun Bagan Super Giant from Group A, SC Delhi from Group C, FC Raengdai from Group D and NorthEast United FC from Group F.
Group B and Group E are still to be decided, with Indian Army FT facing Mohammedan Sporting Club and Shillong Lajong FC facing Langsning FC in matches that will settle those groups. Two best runners up places also remain open, and East Bengal FC’s goal difference of +12 puts them in a commanding position for one of them.
Durand Cup 2026 Group Stage Key Stats and Records
Mohun Bagan Super Giant are the only side yet to concede a goal across three matches, keeping three clean sheets while scoring 15. SC Delhi have the highest goals scored tally at 16. At the other end, Mumbay FC have conceded 17 goals across three matches without scoring, and CISF Protectors have conceded 16.
The heaviest scorelines of the group stage so far are the three 8-0 results and the 7-0 wins recorded by SC Delhi and Nongkseh SS & CC, along with NorthEast United’s 6-0 opener.
Also Read- Durand Cup 2026 Full Schedule: All Fixtures, Groups And Venues
Durand Cup 2026 Quarterfinal Schedule and What Comes Next
The final round of group matches concludes on August 13, after which the quarterfinal line up will be confirmed. The quarterfinals are scheduled for August 16 at the Birsa Munda Football Stadium and the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, and August 17 at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan and the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
The semifinals follow on August 19 and 20, before the 135th IndianOil Durand Cup final on August 23 at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant, who have 17 Durand Cup titles to their name, look the team to beat on current form. But with SC Delhi scoring freely, NorthEast United unbeaten and East Bengal likely to come through as a runner up, the knockout rounds have the makings of a wide open finish.