A guide to the Durand Cup 2022

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The 131^st edition of one of the world’s oldest football competitions is set to start in Kolkata. Currently the first event in India’s annual football season, the Durand cup is also Asia’s oldest football club title. While the two historic teams of Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, have both won the contest an equal number of times (16) , there have been new winners in more recent years. FC Goa emerged victorious in a tensely fought final against Mohammedan Sporting last year, and are set to face each other again in the inaugural match of this year’s season, which will be held jointly in Kolkata, Guwahati and Imphal.

The total number of participating teams this year is twenty, which is higher than last year’s contest between sixteen teams. This includes eleven ISL squads – including first timers Odisha FC, Mumbai City FC and North-East United – along with five teams from the I-League, and four from the armed forces. However, winners of the 2019 edition, Gokulam Kerala FC will be missing from action. The participating teams are yet to announce their starting XI, though FC Goa and Kerala blasters are playing their second teams.

The teams have been split into 4 groups of 5 :

Group A : FC Goa, Jamshedpur FC, Bengaluru FC, Mohammedan Sporting, Indian Air Force.

Group B : ATK Mohun Bagan, Mumbai City FC, East Bengal, Rajasthan United, Indian Navy.

Group C : Hyderabad FC, Chennaiyin FC, NEROCA, TRAU, Army Red.

Group D : Kerala Blasters, Odisha FC, NorthEast United, Sudeva Delhi FC, Army Green.