Kolkata Derby in Durand Cup to be played on August 18

Kolkata: Reigning champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant will take on Downtown Heroes FC of Kashmir in the inaugural match of the Durand Cup here on July 27, while the much-anticipated Kolkata Derby between MBSG and East Bengal, which will also be the last group game, will take place on August 18.

The 133rd edition of Asia’s oldest and world’s fifth oldest tournament will be played in four cities — Kolkata, Kokrajhar in Assam, Shillong in Meghalaya and Jamshedpur in Jharkhand.

While matches in Group A, B and C will take place in Kolkata, the first match in Jamshedpur, a first-time host where Group D matches will be played, will see Jamshedpur FC take on Bangladesh Army Football team — one of the two foreign sides in the tournament. The Group E games will begin in Kokrajhar on July 30 with local side Bodoland FC taking on ISL side NorthEast United FC.