Durand Cup: Know History of Non-Indian Teams Who Participated in Asia's Oldest Club Football Tournament?

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The Durand Cup is one of the oldest football tournaments in the world and the oldest in Asia. It boasts a rich history of participation from non-Indian teams. The tournament is mainly played between some of the best Indian clubs and military teams. However, several non-Indian teams have also been invited, especially in recent times.

Before independence, British army regiments and teams were the initial participants when the tournament was established in 1888 by Sir Mortimer Durand. Later, the focus shifted primarily to Indian teams, including those from the military and civilian clubs.

In the current format, non-Indian teams have mainly meant military teams from neighboring countries. For example, clubs from Nepal, Bangladesh, and other South Asian countries have come to play. Especially, Al-Nasr SC from Iraq participated in 1996 and even reached the finals but lost to JCT Mills.

Since its inception, the Durand Cup has seen many non-Indian clubs come to the country and play. Here is a list of some notable non-Indian clubs that have played in the Durand Cup:

Early Years of the Durand Cup

Recent Participation

These teams represent a mix of British military regiments from the early years of the tournament and more recent international clubs from neighboring countries.