132nd Edition of Durand Cup is all set to begin on August 03 while the final is scheduled on September 03 at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan.
The tournament will be played at three cities Kolkata, Guwahati & Kokrajhar. 24 teams have been divided in 6 groups. Matches of Group A, B & C will be played at Kolkata. Group D & E matches will be hosted by Guwahati while Group F matches are scheduled at Kokrajhar.
Six group winners and the two best second-placed sides will make the knockout stage.
A total of 43 matches, including the final, are scheduled, with two of the four quarterfinals taking place in Guwahati and Kokrajhar, while the rest of the knockouts will take place in Kolkata.
East Bengal FC, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Roundglass Punjab and Bangladesh Army Team are clubbed in Group A.
Mohammedan Sporting, is in Group B alongside ISL sides Mumbai City FC and Jamshedpur FC and Indian Navy.
Bengaluru FC, Kerala Blasters, Gokulam Kerala and Indian Air Force are clubbed in Group C.
North East United FC alongside twice ISL runner-up FC Goa and Shillong Lajong FC, will make Group D with the fourth team will be announced soon.
Group E features two ISL sides, Hyderabad FC and Chennaiyin FC, grouped with Delhi FC, which has been newly promoted to the second division I-League this year and the service team of Nepal, Tribhuvan Army Football Club.
Group F, to be played in Kokrajhar, features the local Bodoland Team, also making a debut in the tournament this year, along with Super Cup champion Odisha FC and I-League side Rajasthan United FC and The Indian Army team.
Fixture of East Bengal FC:
16 times champion East Bengal FC will start their campaign against Bangladesh Services on August 6 at Kishore Bharati Stadium. The Red & Gold Brigade will next face Mohun Bagan Super Giants on August 12 at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan. East Bengal Fc’s last match will be against RoundGlass Punjab FC on August 19. The match is scheduled to be played at Mohun Bagan Ground, but sources informed that the venue might get changed.
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