President Murmu hands over Durand Cup to East Bengal FC

President Droupadi Murmu handed over the President’s Cup of the Durand Cup Tournament 2026 to the winning team, East Bengal Football Club at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Monday. Chief of Defence Staff General N.S. Raja Subramani, President of the Durand Football Tournament Society, Chief of Army Staff General Dhiraj Seth, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh and Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Vice Presidents of the Society, officials and players of East Bengal Football Club were present during the occasion.
East Bengal FC secured the title earlier in August by defeating their arch-rivals Mohun Bagan Super Giant 4-1 in the final of the 135th Durand Cup held at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan. This victory marked East Bengal’s 17th Durand Cup win, drawing them level with Mohun Bagan for the most titles in the tournament’s history. The final saw Thlibam Bipin Singh score in the 10th minute and Edmund Lalrindika achieve a hat-trick with goals at minutes 12, 22 and 44. Mohun Bagan’s sole goal came from Manvir Singh in the 33rd minute.
The Durand Cup, organised by the Eastern Command of the Indian Army on behalf of the three Services, is the world’s third-oldest surviving football competition. Established in 1888, it remains one of India’s most prestigious football tournaments, offering a platform for established players, emerging talent and Services teams.
The 135th edition included 24 teams, featuring one foreign team from the Sri Lankan armed forces, continuing the tradition of the tournament in bringing together leading clubs from India, Services teams and international opposition.