Football's Grand Festival to be Held in Ranchi for the First Time, Preparations for Durand Cup 2026 Intensify

Matches to be held at Birsa Munda Stadium from July 26 to August 16, Trophy Tour on July 18; Preparations reviewed in high-level meeting.

Ranchi. The administration has become fully active regarding the 135th edition of the Durand Cup in the capital Ranchi. A high-level meeting was organized on Monday at the FFP Building in Dhurwa to finalize the preparations for this prestigious tournament, which will be held from July 26 to August 16, 2026, at the Birsa Munda Football Stadium, Morabadi. Presiding over the meeting, Secretary of the Department of Tourism, Art-Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs, Mukesh Kumar, gave clear instructions to the concerned departments that there should be no lapses in the organization. He directed to ensure fire safety, stadium branding, accommodation for players and guests, distribution of invitation cards, and security arrangements in accordance with high standards. The Secretary also instructed the appointment of magistrates to maintain law and order as per the match schedule. The Municipal Corporation was directed to maintain well-planned cleanliness in and around the sports venue, while police and administrative officers were emphasized to strengthen traffic and security arrangements. Meanwhile, to increase public enthusiasm for the tournament, the Indian Army will organize a Trophy Tour program in Ranchi on July 18, 2026. During this, the trophy will be taken through various prominent routes of the city, in an effort to connect people with this historic competition. Responsibilities have been assigned with mutual coordination to all agencies including the District Administration, Health, Electricity, Sports Authority, Tourism, Culture, and Information-Public Relations Department. This event in Ranchi will play a significant role in giving new energy to the sports culture in the state as well as increasing the inclination of youth towards football. The meeting was mainly attended by Municipal Commissioner, Ranchi Municipal Corporation Shri Sushant Gaurav, Director Sports Shri Chhavi Ranjan, Colonel Hem Chandra, Nodal Officer of the Army, Major Anand, Executive Engineer Energy Department Shri Jayakant Kumar, Civil Surgeon Dr. Prabhat Kumar, Superintendent of Police Shri Rakesh Singh, Executive Engineer Jharkhand Sports Authority, and officials from various departments and the district administration.