Shillong, June 11: Meghalaya football could be heading for a historic moment, with sources indicating that three clubs from the state have been invited to participate in the 2026 Durand Cup, one of the oldest and most prestigious football tournaments in the world.
According to sources, this year’s edition of Durand Cup could feature Shillong Lajong FC, Nongkseh SS&CC and Langsning FC. While the organisers are yet to make an official announcement on this, if the participation of all the three clubs is confirmed, it would mark the first time that Meghalaya has had three representatives in a single edition of the tournament. It would also place the state among a select group of Indian footballing regions to have three or more clubs competing in the prestigious competition.
The Durand Cup, first held in 1888, is recognised as the oldest football tournament in Asia and the third oldest surviving football competition in the world. Established during the British era by Sir Henry Mortimer Durand, the tournament has grown to become one of India’s premier football events and now features leading clubs from the Indian Super League (ISL), I-League and the armed forces.
In recent years, Shillong has become one of the important host cities for the competition. The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium has hosted several Durand Cup matches, including group-stage fixtures and knockout games, attracting large crowds and showcasing the city’s deep passion for football.
Meghalaya’s biggest representative in the tournament has been Shillong Lajong FC, which has built a reputation as one of the Northeast’s leading clubs. The I-League side has featured in the tournament since 2023 and enjoyed an impressive run in the previous editions of the Durand Cup, reaching the semi-finals of both 2024 and 2025 editions. Lajong also had a strong domestic season, finishing as runners-up in the Oil India Gold Cup 2025 and winning the inaugural SSA Super Cup in November 2025.
The biggest story, however, could be the inclusion of Nongkseh SS&CC, one of Meghalaya’s fastest-growing clubs and the new power-house in State’s football arena. The Shillong-based side recently completed a remarkable campaign by winning both the SSA Champions Cup 2025 and the 5th Meghalaya State League (MSL) title.
Joining them could be Langsning FC, another familiar name in the state’s football circuit. The former I-League 2nd Division club enjoyed a successful return to the top level of local football by winning the Shillong Premier League 2025 title. Langsning also reached the final of the recently concluded 5th Meghalaya State League after overcoming Shillong Lajong in the semi-finals, before finishing runners-up to Nongkseh SS&CC.
Apart from Shillong Lajong, Rangdajied United FC has also represented the state in recent editions. It was part of the 2024 and 2025 edition of the prestigious tournament, although it could not progress beyond the league stage on both the occasions.
Shillong is also turning out to be one of the favoured venues for the tournaments matches, with a total of 15 Durand Cup matches played in the city across 2024 and 2025. The 2024 Durand Cup featured 7 matches at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Polo, Shillong, while 2025 saw 8 matches played at the same venue including the semi-final between Shillong Lajong FC and NorthEast United FC. One of the reasons for this is cited to be not just the pleasant weather but also the enthusiastic local crowd whose love for football is well known.
An official confirmation regarding the participating teams for the 2026 Durand Cup is expected in the coming weeks.
