India - Durand Cup

About Durand Cup

Durand Cup History, Format, Organization, Media Coverage

The Durand Football Tournament, also known as Durand Cup, is an annual domestic competition in India which was first held in 1888 in Annadale, Shimla. It is hosted by the Durand Football Tournament Society (DFTS). The tournament is the oldest existing football tournament in Asia and 3rd oldest existing professional club football tournament in the world. Currently, the tournament serves as the pre-season knock-out tournament for India's football clubs from all divisions before the start of the Indian domestic football season each year.

The tournament is named after its founder, Sir Mortimer Durand, Foreign Secretary of British India from 1884 to 1894. Since independence, the Army's presence is maintained by the participation of several teams of Indian Armed Forces.