As they were watching and clapping at the FIFA World Cup 2026, football fans in Jharkhand cheerfully await celebrating India’s oldest, most celebrated, and prestigious football tournaments - Durand Cup.

However, they have to wait as the state led by Chief Minister Hemant Soren is going to host the Durand Cup for the first time on July 26, 2026. 

Major General Sajjan Singh Mann, General Officer Commanding( GOC),23 Infantry Division, and Durand Cup Nodal officer Colonel Hem Chandra called on the CM Hemant Soren at his official residence and briefed him on the preparations, logistics, and coordination with various departments for the tournament.

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Soren is said to have expressed happiness and said it is a matter of pride for the football-loving state of Jharkhand, where Adivasis play the game in every town and village.

The Durand Cup (also called the IndianOil Durand Cup) is an annual football competition in India, which was first held in 1888 in Annadale, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh.

Hosted by the Durand Football Tournament Society (DFTS) and the All India Football Federation (AIFF), it is the oldest existing club football tournament in Asia and the fifth oldest national football competition in the world.

The tournament currently serves as the curtain raiser for every Indian football season. It is open for any national club, with guest invitee teams from different sections of the Indian Armed Forces, keeping the century-long tradition intact.

The first event in the state is set to bring national attention to Jharkhand’s growing sports infrastructure. Already, preparations for the event were reviewed during a high-level meeting chaired by Mukesh Kumar, Secretary of the Department of Tourism, Art, Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs.

Sports officers are learnt to have discussed a comprehensive roadmap to ensure smooth conduct of the tournament, including stadium readiness, operational requirements, security arrangements, logistics, cultural programmes and spectator experience.

Kumar is on record as informing that Jharkhand will be hosting the Durand Cup to strengthen football culture in Jharkhand and promote the state as a destination for major sporting events.

He noted that the successful organisation of the tournament could pave the way for the state to host international football matches in the future.

The opening ceremony of the Durand Cup 2026 is expected to showcase a blend of sports, patriotism, military traditions and Jharkhand’s cultural heritage.

Planned highlights include performances by the Indian Armed Forces, special presentations by Army bands and displays of traditional folk and tribal dances reflecting the state’s rich cultural diversity.

A report claims that the plan is being drafted for all preparations within stipulated timelines through close inter-departmental coordination. The focus, it is learnt, would be on delivering a memorable experience for players, officials, football enthusiasts and spectators.