The 134th edition of the Durand Cup has commenced in Kokrajhar, marking the third consecutive year that the town has hosted the prestigious tournament. The opening ceremony on Sunday was a vibrant affair, featuring aerial displays with paragliding stunts, helicopter fly-pasts, and fighter jet routines, captivating the spectators. The tournament itself is scheduled from July 23 to August 23, 2025, across six venues in five Indian states: West Bengal, Jharkhand, Assam, Meghalaya, and Manipur.

The opening match in Kokrajhar saw the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Football Team (ITBP FT) triumph over Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC with a 2–1 victory at the SAI Stadium. The Kokrajhar leg will feature six league matches and one quarterfinal, which is scheduled for August 16.

Indian football icon Sunil Chhetri graced the inaugural session at SAI Stadium. He expressed his delight with the quality of the pitch and the enthusiastic crowd. Chhetri praised the organizers, stating, "I wasn't expecting such a fantastic crowd. The quality of the ground—I'm really happy. Congratulations to all the organizers".

Pramod Boro, the Chief Executive Member of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), conveyed his gratitude to the Indian Army for their continued collaboration in bringing the tournament to Kokrajhar. Boro highlighted the positive impact of such events on the region's youth, stating, "I believe such tournaments will inspire the region's youth to lead the nation".

The Durand Cup 2025 will involve 24 teams from the Indian Super League, I-League, and the Armed Forces, divided into six groups. The group stage will see teams competing in a single round-robin format. The top team from each group, along with the two best second-placed teams, will advance to the quarter-finals, which are scheduled for August 16 and 17. The semi-finals will follow on August 19 and 20, with the final match set to take place on August 23 at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.

Kokrajhar is hosting Group D matches, which include Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC, Punjab FC, ITBP FT, and Bodoland FC. Other cities hosting group stage matches are Kolkata (Groups A and B), Jamshedpur (Group C), Shillong (Group E), and Imphal (Group F).

The Durand Cup, organized by the Indian Armed Forces, is the world's third-oldest and Asia's oldest cup football competition. This year marks the 134th edition of the tournament. The return of the Durand Cup to Kokrajhar is expected to significantly boost sports infrastructure and youth engagement in the region, reinforcing Kokrajhar's position in nurturing football talent in Northeast India.