Durand Cup 2026: Shillong Lajong draw with Langsning secures Group E top spot and completes quarter-final line-up

Shillong Lajong FC and Langsning FC played to a 3-3 draw in the final group-stage match of the Durand Cup 2026, a result that ensured Shillong Lajong finished top of Group E and clinched the last knockout place as the group stage concluded.

Jamshedpur FC’s 6-0 win over Indian Air Force FT in Ranchi confirmed them as one of the best second-placed teams, while Bodoland FC’s 6-0 victory over KAMSFC left them behind Jamshedpur on goal difference and eliminated them. The eight teams progressing to the quarter-finals are Mohun Bagan Super Giant, East Bengal FC, Indian Army FT, SC Delhi, Jamshedpur FC, FC Raengdai, Shillong Lajong FC and NorthEast United FC.

Mohun Bagan SG topped Group A with three wins, beginning with a 1-0 Kolkata Derby victory over East Bengal FC and following with an 8-0 win over South United FC and a 6-0 triumph over CISF Protectors FT at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan on August 10, 2026. Manvir Singh scored a hat-trick against South United, Sahal Abdul Samad produced a hat-trick against CISF, and the Mariners have 15 goals from three matches under new head coach Panagiotis Dilmperis.

East Bengal FC recovered from the 1-0 derby defeat to register an 8-0 win over CISF Protectors and a 5-0 victory against South United, finishing as one of the best second-placed teams with a goal difference of +12. South United FC beat CISF 2-0 in their opener but were eliminated after heavy defeats to Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, while CISF Protectors FT exited after losses to South United, East Bengal and Mohun Bagan.

Indian Army FT won Group B, defeating Samaleswari Sporting 1-0, Baghpat FC 4-0 and Mohammedan SC 2-1 to secure their quarter-final berth. Samaleswari Sporting, making their Durand Cup debut, finished with 6 points after wins over Baghpat FC (4-1) and Mohammedan SC (3-2) but were eliminated; Mohammedan had opened with a 4-0 win over Baghpat before defeats to Samaleswari (4-3) and Indian Army ended their campaign.

SC Delhi topped Group C with 9 points and 16 goals after beating Jamshedpur FC in their opener, defeating Defenders FC 7-0 and overcoming Indian Air Force FT 7-1 at the Birsa Munda Stadium on August 10, 2026. Jamshedpur FC recovered from a loss to SC Delhi to beat Defenders FC 5-0 and then Indian Air Force FT 6-0 in Ranchi to qualify as one of the best runners-up, while Defenders FC lost all their group matches.

Debutants FC Raengdai won Group D after opening with a 1-0 victory over Indian Navy FT and a 4-3 win over TRAU FC, despite a 3-1 loss to Neroca FC. TRAU ended their campaign with a 2-1 win over Indian Navy FT, Indian Navy had beaten Neroca 2-0 in Imphal on August 5, 2026 but lost their final match, and Neroca recorded a 3-1 win over FC Raengdai to register their first tournament victory.

Shillong Lajong sealed top spot in Group E after earlier wins over Nongkseh SS & CC (2-0) and Mumbay FC (5-0 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Shillong on August 8, 2026) before the 3-3 draw with Langsning; Langsning had beaten Mumbay 5-0 and drawn 2-2 with Nongkseh (with two late goals on August 6, 2026) but were eliminated. In Group F defending champions NorthEast United FC finished with nine points after victories of 6-0 over Bodoland FC, 4-1 over Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati on August 8, 2026, and 3-1 against FC1 of Kashmir at the IGA Stadium, Imphal on August 11, 2026; Alaaeddine Ajaraie scored a hat-trick in the opening match and a brace in the second to reach five goals in the competition.

The quarter-final schedule is set: Sporting Delhi will lock horns against debutant FC Raengdai in the first quarter final on August 16, 2026 at 4 PM (IST) at the Birsa Munda Stadium Ranchi, and East Bengal FC will face Indian Army FT in the second quarter final on August 16, 2026 at 7 PM (IST) at the Saltlake Stadium, Kolkata. Mohun Bagan Super Giant meet Jamshedpur FC in the third quarter final on August 17, 2026 at 4 PM (IST) at the Saltlake Stadium, Kolkata, and NorthEast United FC face Shillong Lajong FC in the final quarter final on August 17, 2026 at 7 Pm (IST) at the JLN Stadium, Shillong.