Indian Super League champion Mohun Bagan Super Giant has built momentum slowly but steadily for the Durand Cup, the oldest football competition in Asia, now played as an invitational tournament.
It opened its campaign with a 3-1 win over Mohammedan Sporting, followed by a 4-0 victory against the Border Security Force (BSF) Football Team.
However, another rising team from West Bengal, Diamond Harbour FC, leapfrogged the Mariners to the top spot with consecutive wins, including an 8-1 rout of BSF.
What are the qualification rules for Durand Cup quarterfinals?
In the 2025 Durand Cup, the winners of the six groups and the two best second-placed teams will qualify for the final eight.
The rankings of second-placed teams are done using the following criteria:
- Points in their respective groups
- Points in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
- Goal difference in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
- Goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
- If more than two teams are tied, and after applying all head-to-head criteria above, a subset of teams is still tied, all head-to-head criteria above are reapplied exclusively to this subset of teams;
- Goal difference in all group matches.
- Goals scored in all group matches.
- Drawing of lots.
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How can Mohun Bagan qualify for the quarterfinals?
Mohun Bagan can qualify for the final-eight of the Durand Cup if:
- It wins or draws against Diamond Harbour
- Avoids losing to Diamond Harbour by a three-goal difference and hope Punjab FC and ITBP drop points