NorthEast United to meet Shillong Lajong in Durand Cup quarterfinal at Shillong on August 17, 2026
NorthEast United FC will face Shillong Lajong FC in the Durand Cup 2026 quarterfinal at the Jawaharlal Nehru (JLN) Stadium in Shillong on 17th August, Monday 2026. Kick-off is scheduled for 7:00 pm IST and organisers expect a large crowd for the Northeastern Derby.
NorthEast United arrive in Shillong having won the Durand Cup in consecutive years, 2024 and 2025, under head Juan Pedro Benali. The club are bidding to win the tournament again and complete a three-peat, but must first negotiate this knockout tie. Khel Now described NorthEast United as one of the best sides in the competition over the last couple of years.
NorthEast United's first Durand Cup quarterfinal appearance came in the 132nd edition in 2023, when they played Indian Army FT at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium (IGAS) in Guwahati on August 24th, 2023. The match was goalless at half-time; a second-half switch from Nestor produced a cross-field delivery that found Manvir Singh, whose header set up Phalguni Singh for the only goal of the game. NorthEast United won 1-0 and progressed to face East Bengal in the semifinal, where they were knocked out on penalties against East Bengal.
In 2024 NorthEast United again met Indian Army FT in the quarterfinal, this time at the SAI Stadium, Kokrajhar on 21st August 2024. That game was also 0-0 at the break before Nestor scored in the 52nd minute and Guillermo added a second in the 73rd, securing a comfortable victory. NorthEast United went on to lift the Durand Cup that year, defeating Mohun Bagan SG in the final to claim the club’s first silverware.
The Highlanders entered the 134th edition in 2025 as defending champions and recorded a dominant quarterfinal win over Bodoland FC on August 16, 2025, at the SAI Stadium, Kokrajhar. NorthEast United won 4-0, with Alaaeddine Ajaraie netting a brace and Andy and Parthib Gogoi each adding one goal. That result sent the club into the semifinals of the competition.
Across those three editions NorthEast United have played three Durand Cup quarterfinals and won all three, with opponents in those ties being Indian Army FT (2023 and 2024) and Bodoland FC (2025). This quarterfinal on 17th August 2026 at JLN Stadium will be the club’s fourth appearance at this stage of the Durand Cup.
NorthEast United’s next confirmed fixture is the Durand Cup 2026 quarterfinal against Shillong Lajong FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru (JLN) Stadium in Shillong on 17th August, with kick-off at 7:00 pm IST.
