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The Durand Cup football tournament was started in Shimla in 1898 by the then India's Foreign Secretary, Sir Mortimer Durand. Royal Scots Fusiliers bagged the honours in the inaugural Durand cup by defeating Highland Light Infantry with score 2-1.
Since Independence, Mohun Bagan (16) and East Bengal (15) have split 31 cup victories between them. The tournament is hosted by the army and is held at the Ambedkar Stadium in Delhi.
Even though the Durand Cup used to attract huge crowds, the tournament has lost its sheen due to the lack of coordination between the Army and the All India Football Federation (AIFF). With the AIFF investing on the National Football League, like many other domestic competitions, the Durand Cup is also sliding into obscurity.
