The 135th Durand Cup begins on Saturday with a Kolkata derby between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan Super Giant, restarting one of India’s oldest football rivalries. Multiple outlets report the match as the tournament’s opener, with the derby serving as the first fixture to kick off the 2026 edition. East Bengal, who won the Indian Super League title, and Mohun Bagan, face off at the start of the competition in a game seen as setting the tone for both clubs’ new-season campaigns.
Times of India adds that both sides are underprepared ahead of the derby, citing a short training window of about four days and limited team options. It also notes that the clubs have new coaches—Antonio Lopez Habas for East Bengal and Panagiotis Dilmperis for Mohun Bagan—and that few foreign players are available. With foreign signings reportedly constrained, Indian players are expected to play a more prominent role in the opening match.
