All you need to know about the Durand Cup in 2022

The 131st Durand Cup starts on Tuesday in Kolkata. It is one of the oldest football tournaments in the world and now marks the start of the Indian football season.

How did the Durand Cup come to be?

 The Durand Cup is the oldest club competition in Asia. It has been played since 1888. Both Mohun Bagan and East Bengal have won the Durand Cup 16 times, making them the most successful teams in its history. But neither of the two big teams from Kolkata has won this trophy in a while. East Bengal last won it in 2004, and Hun Bagan last won it in 2000. 

What went on the year before?

 Last year, FC Goa was the only ISL club to sign up their first-team squad for the tournament. They won the tournament after beating Mohammedan Sporting 1-0 in the final. The captain, Edu Bedia, scored the goal in extra time. The first game of the competition this year will be a rematch of the final from last year. 

When does this year's event take place?

 The action starts on August 16, and the end is set for September 18. 

Where does it take place?

 The Durand Cup 2022 will be held in Kolkata, Imphal, and Guwahati. At the Vivekananda Yubabharati Krirangan (VYBK) in Kolkata, both the first game and the final will be played. This year, Durand Cup games will also be played at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata, the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati, and the Khuman Lampak Stadium in Imphal. 

Why is this year different?

 The first change is that there are now 20 teams instead of 16. This year, all 11 ISL clubs will take part in the competition. This will be the first time that Mumbai City FC, NorthEast United, and Odisha FC play in the Durand Cup. In addition to the 11 ISL teams, there will also be five I-League teams and four teams from the Armed Forces. Winners in 2019 Gokulam Kerala FC is not one of the teams that have signed up, though. This year, the I-League will be represented by Mohammedan Sporting, TRAU, NEROCA, Rajasthan United, and Sudeva Delhi. 

How does it work?

 The 20 teams have been put into four groups of five teams each. Games for Groups A and B will be held in Kolkata. Group C games will be held in Imphal, and Group D games will be held in Guwahati. The top two players in each group then move on to the next round. ATK Mohun Bagan plays East Bengal in the Kolkata Derby on August 28. This is the most important game to watch. Also, the semifinal and final of last year's Durand Cup will be played again in Group A. FC Goa will play Bengaluru FC on August 30 and Mohammedan will play FC Goa in the first game on August 16. In Group C, NEROCA will play TRAU in an Imphal Derby on August 18 in front of a loud crowd at the Khuman Lampak Stadium. This game is sure to be exciting. 

But what about the teams?

Not all clubs have announced their teams for the competition yet, but the defending champions, FC Goa, have announced a young team, with their second-string players trying to defend the title. Even the Kerala Blasters are not putting out their best team for this competition. But Mumbai City FC and Odisha FC have already named their full-strength squads, which include six foreign players. Other teams like Bengaluru FC, Chennaiyin FC, and ATK Mohun Bagan are also likely to do the same.