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2026 Indian Football League

2026 Indian Football League
Season2025–26
Dates27 February – TBA[1]
2026–27 →

The 2025–26 Indian Football League will be the fourth season of the Indian Football League as the second tier of the Indian football league system. Inter Kashi FC were the reigning champions, having won the 2024–25 I-League.

Developments

After the Indian Super League received no bids for a sponsor, the I-League was left without a commercial partner too, putting the future of the league in doubt.[2][3]

On 6 January 2026, AIFF head Kalyan Chaubey confirmed that due to the shortened season, all 11 I-League clubs would participate in a single leg home-and-away format for a total of 55 matches.[4]

On 29 January 2026, the AIFF proposed that in addition to the single leg home-and-away format, an added feature of a championship round involving the top six teams and a relegation round with the five bottom-placed sides would be implemented. Points from the initial stage will be carried to the championship round, with the top two qualifying for the semi-finals. Teams in positions 3 to 6 will go through play-offs to advance to the last four stage. A minimum 80 matches (50 in top half) is expected to be played.[5]

The clubs also proposed a change of name from I-League to the Indian Football League.

Team changes

The following teams have changed division since the 2024–25 season:

The AIFF appeal committee stayed relegation for Delhi and Sporting Bengaluru from the 2024–25 I-League season until it arrives at a final judgement. Later, CAS terminated SC Bengaluru's appeal over non-payment and both teams are set to enter Indian Football League One this season.[6]

Churchill Brothers withdrew from the tournament.[7]

Teams

Locations of the Indian Football League teams


Team State/UT City Stadium Capacity
Aizawl Mizoram Aizawl Rajiv Gandhi Stadium 20,000
Chanmari
Dempo Goa Mapusa Duler Stadium 10,000
Diamond Harbour West Bengal Diamond Harbour Naihati Stadium 25,000
Gokulam Kerala Kerala Kozhikode Payyanad Stadium 30,000
Namdhari Punjab Bhaini Sahib Namdhari Stadium 1,000
Rajasthan United Rajasthan Jaipur Vidhyadhar Nagar Stadium 3,000
Real Kashmir Jammu & Kashmir Srinagar TRC Turf Ground 10,000
Shillong Lajong Meghalaya Shillong SSA Stadium 5,000
Sreenidi Deccan Telangana Hyderabad Deccan Arena 1,500

Personnel and sponsorship

Team Head coach Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
Aizawl India Victor Lalbiakmawia India Lalchhawnkima Vamos[8] NECS Limited[9]
Chanmari India Dipankur Sharma India Lalrinchhana Tochhawng Six5Six Livaah
Diamond Harbour Spain Kibu Vicuña India Subrata Santra Nautica Apeejay Surrendra
Dempo India Samir Naik India Mohamed Ali Shiv Naresh Dempo
Gokulam Kerala Spain José Hevia India Shibinraj Kunniyil FLY HIGH CSB Bank[10]
Namdhari India Harpreet Singh India Manvir Singh SPS Hospitals[11] Namdharis
Rajasthan United India Vikas Rawat (Interim) India Mohit Singh Verito King Sports Vertak Group
Real Kashmir India Ishfaq Ahmed Ghana Kamal Issah Hummel Livpure
Shillong Lajong India Birendra Thapa India Hardy Nongbri King Sports Meghalaya Tourism
Sreenidi Deccan Portugal Carlos Vaz Pinto Brazil Eli Sabiá Hummel Sreenidi Group

Managerial changes

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in the table Incoming manager Date of appointment
Gokulam Kerala India Renjith TA End of interim spell 6 June 2025 Pre-season Spain José Hevia 6 June 2025[12]
Shillong Lajong Spain José Hevia Mutual consent 5 June 2025 India Birendra Thapa 18 July 2025[13]
Sreenidi Deccan India Ishant Singh End of interim spell 11 November 2025 Portugal Carlos Vaz Pinto 12 November 2025

Foreign players

Bold denotes the player was signed mid-season.

Team Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Player 4 Player 5 Player 6 Former player(s)
Aizawl
Chanmari
Diamond Harbour Nigeria Bright Enobakhare Nigeria Sunday Afolabi Slovenia Luka Majcen Spain Mikel Kortazar
Dempo
Gokulam Kerala Afghanistan Amid Arezou Brazil John Kennedy Lesotho Thabiso Brown Spain Nili Uzbekistan Mirjalol Kasimov
Namdhari Brazil Dé Ghana Lamine Moro
Rajasthan United Ghana Abdul Samad Ango Spain Gerard Artigas Spain Pedro Astray
Real Kashmir Guinea Fandje Toure Ghana Kamal Issah Ivory Coast Omar Fofana Nigeria Shedrack Charles Ghana Mamoud Oshie
Shillong Lajong
Sreenidi Deccan Brazil Paulo Cezar Cameroon Fabrice Kah Colombia David Castañeda Togo Hadi Idrissou

First stage

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Aizawl 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Promotion round
2 Chanmari 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 Dempo 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 Diamond Harbour 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 Gokulam Kerala 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
6 Namdhari 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 Rajasthan United 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Relegation round
8 Real Kashmir 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
9 Shillong Lajong 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
10 Sreenidi Deccan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 21 February 2026. Source: I-League
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Total goal difference; 5) Total number of goals scored; 6) drawing of lots
(Note: Head-to-head record is used only after all the matches between the teams in question have been played)

Fixtures and results

Home \ Away AIZ CHN DHB DEM GOK NAM RAJ REK SHL SRD
Aizawl —
Chanmari —
Diamond Harbour —
Dempo —
Gokulam Kerala —
Namdhari —
Rajasthan United —
Real Kashmir —
Shillong Lajong —
Sreenidi Deccan —
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: I-League
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Results by games

Positions by round

Promotion Round

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Promotion to ISL
2 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: TBA. Source: I-League
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Total goal difference; 5) Total number of goals scored; 6) drawing of lots
(Note: Head-to-head record is used only after all the matches between the teams in question have been played)

Relegation Round

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Relegation to IL2
5 TBD 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: TBA. Source: I-League
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Total goal difference; 5) Total number of goals scored; 6) drawing of lots
(Note: Head-to-head record is used only after all the matches between the teams in question have been played)

Season statistics

Top scorers

Hat-tricks

Top assists

Clean sheets

Attendance

Overall

By home matches

Awards

See also

2025–26 in Indian football leagues
Level Men's Women's
I ISL IWL
II IFL IWL-2
III I-League 2 N/a
IV I-League 3
V State leagues of India
Men's Cup
AIFF Super Cup
Durand Cup
Youth Men's
RFD League

References

  1. ^ https://www.facebook.com/ILeagueOfficial/photos/the-indian-football-league-2025-26-will-kick-off-on-february-27-more-details-bit/896922206054404/
  2. ^ "Indian football crisis deepens as I-League finds no takers". The Times of India. 2025-12-15. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  3. ^ "No kickoff in sight as Indian football battles an uncertain future: 'It is not about ISL. There is no I-League'". Firstpost. 2025-12-17. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  4. ^ "ISL 2025-26 starting date announced, I-League to run parallel". Khel Now. 2026-01-06. Retrieved 2025-01-06.
  5. ^ "Under new ownership model and name, AIFF eyes I-League start on Feb 21". www.news9live.com. 2026-01-29. Retrieved 2026-01-29.
  6. ^
  7. ^ "Churchill Bros left out of second-tier IFL". The Times of India. 2026-02-16. Retrieved 2026-02-16.
  8. ^ "Unveiling our 40th Anniversary Edition Home Jersey for the 2024/2025 season. 🔴⚪️". X (Twitter). 23 June 2024. Archived from the original on 30 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  9. ^ "Unveiling our 40th Anniversary Edition Home Jersey for the 2024/2025 season. 🔴⚪️". X (Twitter). 23 June 2024. Archived from the original on 30 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  10. ^ Zaidi, Waseem (21 January 2022). "I-LEAGUE: Introducing shirt sponsors of every I-league club for 2021-22 season". www.khelnow.com. Khel Now. Archived from the original on 22 January 2022. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  11. ^ Saha, Rahul (3 November 2023). "I-league Commercial Guide: A Complete List of the 2023/24 I-League Team Sponsors". sportskhabri.com. Sports Khabri. Archived from the original on 3 November 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  12. ^ "Gokulam appoint attack-minded Jose Hevia as head coach, aim instant ISL promotion". Onmanorama. 6 June 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  13. ^ "Lajong promote from within, name Birendra Thapa as new head coach". The Sports Room. 19 July 2025. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
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