The Manipur edition of the Durand Cup 2022 will start with the Imphal derby in the capital city of Imphal on August 18.
On the opening day, Neroca FC will face TRAU FC in a group C match at the Khuman Lampak Stadium in Imphal. The match will start at 6 pm.
Along with Kolkata, Guwahati and Imphal are hosting the matches of Asia’s oldest football tournament for the first time. This is the 131st edition of the Durand Cup.
The other teams in the group are Chennaiyin FC, Army Red FT and Hyderabad FC.
The oldest football tournament in Asia. Etched in history and legacy. We are ready to take part in the historic tournament.
Durand Cup, here we come!!#DurandCup #DurandCup2022 #IndianFootball #IndianFootballForwardTogether pic.twitter.com/jLbVvRc8vu— Neroca FC (@NerocaFC) July 12, 2022
Some of the matches will also start at 3 pm.
The tournament, however, will begin on August 16 at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK) in Kolkata. Defending champion FC Goa will face local giants Mohammedan Sporting Club in the opening Group A game.
In this edition, for the first time, 20 teams from ISL, I-League and Indian Armed Forces are participating in the tournament.
The tickets for the Imphal matches will be available on bookmyshow.com. Apart from that, the fans will also be able to buy the tickets offline at the Khuman Lampak Stadium gate 1 and gate 2 box offices (8.30 am – 4.00 pm). The box offices will be operational throughout the group stage matches of respective cities.
The ticket prices have been fixed at Rs 50, Rs 100 and Rs 300 for Imphal matches.
A symbol of India’s football history and culture, the Durand Cup is Asia’s oldest and the world’s third oldest football tournament. Organised by the Indian Armed Forces, the Durand Cup has been the breeding ground for India’s best footballing talent, over the years.
The inaugural edition happened in Shimla in 1888, when it started off as an Army Cup, open only to the British Indian Army troops in India, but soon opened up to civilian teams.
