Write by Sanjoy gorh
The 9th Oil India Gold Cup Football Tournament 2026 is set to bring another major football spectacle to Duliajan, Assam, with matches scheduled at Nehru Maidan. The tournament is organised by Oil India and features a mix of established football clubs, institutional teams and regional sides competing for the prestigious Gold Cup.
According to the tournament schedule shown in the official event poster, the 2026 edition begins with a pre-quarter-final fixture on 21 September 2026 and continues through the knockout stages before culminating in the grand final on 3 October 2026.
The competition includes teams from different parts of India, including Delhi, Meghalaya, Punjab, Assam, Manipur, West Bengal and other parts of the Northeast. With several well-known names in the participating lineup, football supporters in Duliajan and surrounding areas can expect an exciting series of matches.
9th Oil India Gold Cup 2026: Tournament Overview
The Oil India Gold Cup has become an important football event in Assam and the wider Northeast Indian football landscape. The tournament provides an opportunity for established clubs, emerging players and regional teams to compete in a competitive knockout environment.
The 9th edition of the Oil India Gold Cup Football Tournament 2026 will be played at Nehru Maidan, Duliajan.
| Details | Information |
| Tournament | 9th Oil India Gold Cup Football Tournament |
| Year | 2026 |
| Venue | Nehru Maidan, Duliajan |
| Organiser | Oil India |
| Format | Knockout |
| Tournament start | 21 September 2026 |
| Final | 3 October 2026 |
| Final kick-off | 5:30 PM |
| Ground listed | Ground #01 |
The schedule poster lists 14 teams/entries, including two qualifier positions. This means the qualifying pathway determines the final two teams entering the main knockout lineup.
The tournament structure consists of pre-quarter-finals, quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final.
Participating Teams in Oil India Gold Cup 2026
The 2026 tournament features a diverse collection of football teams. The participating teams listed on the tournament schedule are:
- Sporting Club, Delhi
- Shillong Lajong FC, Meghalaya
- Punjab FC
- North East United FC (NEUFC), Guwahati
- Sudeva FC, Delhi
- CISF Football Team, Delhi
- Kiderpore SC, Kolkata
- ASUFII Football Academy
- NRL FA, Numaligarh
- Lenruol FC, Silchar
- ASEB Sports Club, Guwahati
- Oil India FC, Duliajan
- Qualifier-1
- Qualifier-2
This lineup gives the tournament a strong geographical spread. Teams from Delhi, Kolkata, Punjab and Meghalaya are joined by several Assam and Northeast-based sides.
The participation of Oil India FC, the host organisation’s football team, adds additional local interest. Meanwhile, teams such as Shillong Lajong FC, Punjab FC, NorthEast United FC and Sudeva FC bring significant football experience and recognition to the competition.
Oil India Gold Cup 2026 Match Schedule
The tournament schedule begins with a pre-quarter-final match on 21 September 2026.
Match A: ASEB SC vs ASUFII FA
Date: 21 September 2026
Kick-off: 5:30 PM
Venue: Ground #01, Nehru Maidan, Duliajan
The opening scheduled knockout fixture is between ASEB Sports Club, Guwahati and ASUFII Football Academy, Manipur. The match is important because the winner advances to face CISF Football Team, Delhi in the next stage.
The schedule indicates that teams entering through this stage have to win their opening knockout match to continue their journey toward the Gold Cup final.
Pre-Quarter-Final Fixtures
The pre-quarter-final stage continues on 22, 23, 24 and 25 September.
Match B: Sudeva FC, Delhi vs Qualifier-1
Date: 22 September 2026
Kick-off: 5:30 PM
Ground: #01
Sudeva FC, Delhi will face Qualifier-1. The winner will progress to the quarter-final and meet Shillong Lajong FC, Meghalaya.
Match C: Lenruol FC, Silchar vs NRL FA, Numaligarh
Date: 22 September 2026
Kick-off: 3:30 PM
Ground: #01
This fixture brings together two teams from the Northeast. Lenruol FC of Silchar will take on NRL FA from Numaligarh, with the winner earning a quarter-final meeting against North East United FC (NEUFC), Guwahati.
Match D: Oil India FC, Duliajan vs Qualifier-2
Date: 23 September 2026
Kick-off: 5:00 PM
Ground: #01
Host side Oil India FC, Duliajan will face Qualifier-2. The winner advances to a quarter-final against Kiderpore SC, Kolkata.
Match E: CISF Football Team, Delhi vs Winner of Match A
Date: 24 September 2026
Kick-off: 5:00 PM
Ground: #01
The CISF Football Team enters this stage against the winner of ASEB Sports Club versus ASUFII Football Academy.
Match F: NEUFC vs Winner of Match C
Date: 25 September 2026
Kick-off: 5:00 PM
Ground: #01
NorthEast United FC will meet the winner of the Lenruol FC versus NRL FA encounter.
Quarter-Final Schedule
After the pre-quarter-final stage, the tournament moves into the quarter-finals from 26 to 29 September 2026.
Quarter-Final G
Shillong Lajong FC, Meghalaya vs Winner of Match B
Date: 26 September 2026
Kick-off: 5:00 PM
Ground: #01
Shillong Lajong FC will face the winner of Sudeva FC versus Qualifier-1.
Quarter-Final H
Kiderpore SC, Kolkata vs Winner of Match D
Date: 27 September 2026
Kick-off: 5:00 PM
Ground: #01
Kiderpore SC will take on the winner of Oil India FC versus Qualifier-2.
Quarter-Final I
Punjab FC vs Winner of Match E
Date: 28 September 2026
Kick-off: 5:00 PM
Ground: #01
Punjab FC enters the quarter-final stage against the winner of CISF Football Team versus the winner of Match A.
Quarter-Final J
Sporting Club, Delhi vs Winner of Match F
Date: 29 September 2026
Kick-off: 5:00 PM
Ground: #01
Sporting Club, Delhi will face the winner of the NorthEast United FC versus Match C winner encounter.
Oil India Gold Cup 2026 Semi-Final Schedule
The four quarter-final winners will advance to the semi-finals.
Semi-Final K
Winner of Match G vs Winner of Match I
Date: 30 September 2026
Kick-off: 5:00 PM
Ground: #01
The winners from the Shillong Lajong bracket and Punjab FC bracket will compete for a place in the final.
Semi-Final L
Winner of Match H vs Winner of Match J
Date: 1 October 2026
Kick-off: 5:00 PM
Ground: #01
The second semi-final will determine the other finalist.
This structure means the tournament could produce several high-profile knockout clashes depending on the results of the opening rounds.
Oil India Gold Cup 2026 Final
The grand final is scheduled for 3 October 2026.
Final: Winner of Match K vs Winner of Match L
Date: 3 October 2026
Kick-off: 5:30 PM
Venue: Nehru Maidan, Duliajan
Ground: #01
The final will determine the champion of the 9th Oil India Gold Cup Football Tournament 2026.
The final is scheduled slightly later than most knockout fixtures, with kick-off at 5:30 PM.
Nehru Maidan, Duliajan: Venue for the Tournament
Nehru Maidan in Duliajan is an important football venue in Assam and has hosted Oil India football events previously. The venue is closely associated with Oil India’s sporting activities and provides a home setting for the Duliajan-based football community.
The 2026 tournament schedule lists Ground #01 for the fixtures shown on the poster.
For spectators attending matches, checking the latest information from the tournament organisers before travelling is advisable because match arrangements, timings or other event details can potentially change.
Why the 2026 Oil India Gold Cup Is Important for Northeast Football
Football has a strong cultural and sporting presence across Assam and the Northeast. Competitions such as the Oil India Gold Cup provide regional players and clubs with opportunities to play against teams from outside their immediate local competition.
The tournament also creates a platform for younger footballers to gain experience in competitive matches. For supporters, it offers the opportunity to watch different playing styles and clubs in one tournament.
The 2026 lineup is particularly interesting because it combines established clubs with institutional and regional teams. The knockout format also means that every match has significant importance: a single defeat can end a team’s campaign.
Previous Oil India Gold Cup Context
The Oil India Gold Cup has a history dating back to the mid-2000s. Historical records identify the competition as an invitational football tournament associated with Duliajan and Oil India. The 2025 edition was the eighth edition, with Diamond Harbour FC defeating Shillong Lajong FC 2–0 in the final.
The 2025 tournament also demonstrated the event’s ability to attract teams from outside Assam. Reports from that edition described the competition as part of Oil India’s efforts to promote football, community engagement and sporting talent in Assam and the Northeast.
The 2026 edition therefore continues an established tournament tradition while introducing a new field of participating teams.
Oil India Gold Cup 2026: What Football Fans Should Know
The tournament schedule provides several important points for supporters:
- The competition begins on 21 September 2026.
- The tournament is being held at Nehru Maidan, Duliajan.
- The schedule includes 14 team entries, including two qualifier positions.
- The knockout rounds run through September.
- The semi-finals are scheduled for 30 September and 1 October.
- The final is scheduled for 3 October 2026 at 5:30 PM.
- Most matches are listed at 5:00 PM, while some earlier-round fixtures begin at 3:30 PM or 5:30 PM.
- All fixtures shown in the poster are listed at Ground #01.
The organisers also advise a reporting time of one hour and thirty minutes before kick-off according to the tournament poster.
Conclusion
The 9th Oil India Gold Cup Football Tournament 2026 promises a competitive knockout football campaign in Duliajan, Assam. With teams such as Shillong Lajong FC, Punjab FC, NorthEast United FC, Sporting Club Delhi, Sudeva FC, Oil India FC, CISF Football Team, Kiderpore SC and several Northeast-based clubs, the tournament brings together a varied group of football sides.
The competition starts with the scheduled pre-quarter-final match between ASEB Sports Club, Guwahati and ASUFII Football Academy on 21 September 2026, before moving through the pre-quarter-finals, quarter-finals and semi-finals.
The final is scheduled for 3 October 2026 at Nehru Maidan, Duliajan, where the two surviving teams will compete for the 2026 Oil India Gold Cup.
For football followers in Assam and across Northeast India, the tournament provides an opportunity to follow a concentrated series of competitive knockout matches while highlighting the region’s continuing contribution to Indian football.