Mortimer Durand, then India's Foreign Secretary, launched the Durand Cup in Shimla, India, in 1888. After the FA Cup and the Scottish Cup, the Durand Cup is the third oldest football competition.
The first edition of the cup was won by the Royal Scots Fusiliers, who defeated Highland Light Infantry 2–1 in the final. The IFA Shield was established in 1893 and is the world's fourth oldest trophy.
Calcutta, the British India capital at the time, quickly became the center of Indian football. Sarada FC was India's first football club.
The first club, Calcutta FC, was founded in 1872. The Dalhousie Club, Traders Club, and Naval Volunteers Club were among the first clubs established. Mohun Bagan A.C., India's oldest existing team, was founded in 1889 as 'Mohun Bagan Sporting Club.' The army took control of this club for the first time. It featured Hindus and Muslims as participants. Several football clubs were founded in Calcutta during the 1890s, including Calcutta FC, Sovabazar, and Aryan Club. Around this time, tournaments such as the Gladstone Cup, Trades Cup, and Cooch Behar Cup began.
The R B Ferguson Football Club was founded in Thrissur, Kerala, on February 20, 1899, and was the first football club in the southern portion of India.R B Ferguson, the Kochi Police Superintendent, was honored with the club's name. Young Men's Football Club was the club's moniker, and it was instrumental in establishing football in Kerala in the early 1900s.
The Indian Football Association, the first Indian federation, was created in 1893, although it did not have a single Indian on its board of directors.
