East Bengal kept their hopes of reaching the Durand Cup 2026 quarterfinals alive with a commanding 5-0 victory over South United.

The Indian Super League champions signed off from their Group A campaign with a convincing win and moved to the top of the table on six points, level with Mohun Bagan SG. However, East Bengal's place in the last eight is not yet guaranteed.

Mohun Bagan have already secured the Group A top spot after winning both their matches, including the Kolkata derby against East Bengal. The group winners qualify directly for the quarterfinals.

East Bengal, meanwhile, finished second after collecting two wins from three matches. Their impressive goal difference of +12 currently puts them at the top of the ranking for the best second-placed teams.

How can East Bengal qualify for the quarterfinals?

The winners of each group will earn a direct berth in the Durand Cup 2026 quarterfinals. Mohun Bagan SG have already secured the Group A top spot after beating East Bengal in the Kolkata derby and then defeating South United.

East Bengal, who finished second in the group, can still make the last eight. Their route is through the best second-placed teams category, where they currently sit at the top with six points and a superior goal difference.

However, the Red-and-Gold Brigade's qualification is not yet confirmed. They will have to wait for the remaining group-stage matches and see how the other second-placed teams fare before their quarterfinal fate is decided.

Only the best second-placed teams across the groups will advance to the quarterfinals, meaning East Bengal now have to wait for the remaining group matches to be completed.

Several teams are still in contention for the second-placed qualification spots. Samaleswari are also on six points from three matches, while Shillong Lajong, Srinagar FC and the Indian Air Force are among the teams currently in the race with three points each.

For East Bengal, the 5-0 win has strengthened their position considerably, but their fate will ultimately depend on how the remaining groups unfold.