India and Asia's oldest and the world's third-oldest tournament, the Durand Cup is set to kick off on 3rd August and the final is scheduled be held at the Salt Lake Stadium on 3rd September. It will be held in four cities, Kolkata, Guwahati, Kokrajhar and at Shillong.

It is learned that Mohun Bagan SG and Emami East Bengal has been slotted in the same group in Durand Cup. So the football loving people as well as the fans of both the teams may have opportunity to witness the first Kolkata derby this season in August. 

The number of teams participating in the upcoming edition has been increased to 24, from 20, with three foreign teams participating in the competition for the first time in the last 27 years.

After 27 years foreign teams have been invited in the prestigious tournament. The three foreign teams are Bhutan Services, Nepal Services and Bangladesh Services. Other than the foreign outfits, 12 ISL clubs, five I-League clubs, three teams from the Indian Armed Forces and one local club will take part in the 132nd edition of the competition.

Over the next month, a Trophy Tour will be conducted across the length and breadth of the country covering some major cities like Shimla, Udhampur, Jaipur, Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, Bhubaneshwar, Kokrajhar, Guwahati and Shillong before reaching Kolkata for the mega event on 3rd August.