The Durand Cup holds an unquestionable place in Indian football history, and its modern relevance has seen a resurgence in recent years. As Asia’s oldest football tournament, the Durand Cup has evolved into a significant and competitive pre-season event. The Durand Cup 2020 was not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, since 2021, Indian Super League (ISL) clubs have actively participated, using the tournament as a pre-season proving ground. It offers teams a chance to build momentum, develop chemistry, and assess tactical systems. But does winning the Durand Cup lead to ISL success? Here’s a look at how the champions since 2021 performed in the subsequent ISL seasons.
Durand Cup 2021 result: Champions (beat Mohammedan SC 1-0 in the final)
FC Goa won their first Durand Cup title in 2021 impressively. They topped their group and won all their knockout matches, including a tense penalty shootout victory over Bengaluru FC in the semi-finals. In the final, they edged past Mohammedan Sporting Club with an extra-time goal to lift the trophy. (FSDL)
ISL 2021-22 finish: 9th
However, despite their Durand Cup triumph under Juan Ferrando, FC Goa struggled in the ISL. A mid-season coaching change saw interim head coach Derrick Pereira take over, but the Gaurs never found their rhythm. Injuries and inconsistent performances hampered their campaign, resulting in just four wins in 20 league matches, marking their poorest league finish since 2016. (FSDL)
Durand Cup 2022 result: Champions (beat Mumbai City FC 2-1 in the final)
Bengaluru FC lifted their first Durand Cup title in 2022. Unlike the previous edition, the 2022 tournament was held across multiple venues: Kolkata, Imphal, and Guwahati. Bengaluru FC finished second in their five-team group, edged past Odisha FC in the quarter-finals, and secured a narrow 1-0 win over Hyderabad FC in the semi-finals. In the final, they defeated Mumbai City FC, who had topped Group B. (FSDL)
ISL 2022-23 finish: 4th in league & ISL Cup finalists
Under new head coach Simon Grayson, the Blues struggled to carry the Durand Cup momentum into the season, collecting just ten points from their opening 12 matches. However, they made a remarkable late-season surge, winning eight straight league matches to qualify for the playoffs and then reaching the final. They also reached the Super Cup final later that season, finishing as runners-up to Odisha FC. (FSDL)
Durand Cup 2023 result: Champions (beat East Bengal FC 1-0 in the final)
Mohun Bagan Super Giant clinched their record 17th Durand Cup in 2023, defeating rivals East Bengal FC in a nail-biting final. Drawn in Group A, they finished second behind East Bengal FC but qualified for the knockouts as one of the best second-placed teams. From there, the Mariners defeated heavyweights Mumbai City FC and FC Goa en route to the final. In the summit clash, they faced East Bengal FC again and avenged their group-stage loss with a hard-fought win to lift the trophy. (FSDL)
ISL 2023-24 finish: 1st in the league and ISL Cup finalists
This momentum carried into their ISL campaign. Boosted by strong additions in midfield and attack, MBSG started well. A mid-season slump saw the Mariners dismiss Ferrando and replace him with Antonio Habas. They turned a corner, topped the league stage, and secured the Shield. Although they fell short in the final after losing to Mumbai City FC in Kolkata, the Durand Cup triumph, particularly the win over arch-rivals East Bengal, proved pivotal in building early chemistry and belief within the squad. (FSDL)
Durand Cup 2024 result: Champions (beat MBSG 4-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw)
NorthEast United FC stunned everyone by defeating defending champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant to lift the 2024 Durand Cup. Played across four venues, the 2024 edition saw the Highlanders top their group before beating Indian Army and Shillong Lajong FC in the knockout stages. In the final, they faced tournament favourites MBSG at the Salt Lake Stadium. After going 2-0 down, they made a remarkable comeback, striking twice in the second half to force penalties and holding their nerve in the shootout to script a historic win. (FSDL)
ISL 2024-25 finish: ISL Playoffs
This marked their first-ever major silverware and gave fans a genuine reason to dream. Under Juan Pedro Benali, the team carried that momentum into the ISL season and quickly established themselves as one of the most formidable sides in the league. They suffered just six defeats, the joint-third fewest in the regular season, and scored the second-most goals. Their attacking intent and resilience saw them finish fourth in the table, but their campaign ended in the playoffs following a defeat to Jamshedpur FC. (FSDL)
