Durand Cup set to introduce women's tournament from next edition
Organizers have announced plans to introduce a women's tournament from the next edition of the Durand Cup, while the 135th edition will kick off with a derby between Mohun Bagan and East Bengal. Preparations for the upcoming season included staging a women's exhibition match in Imphal as part of broader build-up activity.
The tournament's 135th staging will feature twenty-four men's teams competing across five venues, with Ranchi named among the host cities. Event coordinators staged a special women's exhibition match in Imphal during the preparatory period, reflecting an increased emphasis on the women's game ahead of formal competition planning. Officials say consideration is underway to add a dedicated women's competition in the near future and to implement that expansion from the next edition.
Organizers are considering introducing a women's tournament in the near future, with the Imphal exhibition cited as a key step in testing and promoting the concept. The exhibition match served as part of the preparatory programme for the season and provided a practical platform to evaluate interest and logistics tied to women’s fixtures. No final format or team list for the prospective women's event has been announced beyond the commitment to introduce it from the next edition.
On the men's side, the competition will proceed with a 24-team field spread across five venues, a structure that frames the 135th Durand Cup's schedule and travel plans. The selection of multiple venues, including Ranchi, is intended to accommodate the tournament's scale and regional reach. Match fixtures and detailed scheduling for all participating sides have been arranged within that multi-venue framework.
Defending champions NorthEast United will begin their title defence against Bodoland FC, marking one of the opening encounters for the reigning winners. That fixture is part of the tournament calendar established for the 135th edition and is among the matchups that will determine the early competitive narrative. Meanwhile, the season opener between Mohun Bagan and East Bengal remains the high-profile curtain-raiser for the competition.
The steps taken ahead of the 135th Durand Cup — from staging the Imphal exhibition to planning a multi-venue, 24-team men’s field — accompany the organisers’ intent to expand the tournament’s footprint by introducing a women's competition from the next edition. Those arrangements frame both the immediate season and the announced intention to broaden the Durand Cup’s scope.