ILeague Updates : Who are playing? Format, Promotion | Indian Football скачать в хорошем качестве

ILeague Updates : Who are playing? Format, Promotion | Indian Football

It’s a bit of a chaotic but exciting time for Indian football. After a period of uncertainty and delays, the domestic leagues are finally getting back on track. Here is the current status of the I-League and I-League 2 as of February 2026: I-League 2025-26: The "Fresh Start" The I-League is undergoing a major transformation. In a move to give clubs more control, it is being restructured and will likely be rebranded as the Indian Football League (IFL). Kick-off Date: Scheduled for February 21, 2026. The Format: Due to the late start, it will be a truncated, two-stage season: Stage 1: A single-leg round-robin where all clubs play each other once. Stage 2: The top 6 teams move to a Championship Round (home-and-away) to fight for the title, while the bottom teams enter a Relegation Round to stay in the league. Participating Teams: There are 10 confirmed clubs (with Churchill Brothers currently unlikely to play). Notable teams include Gokulam Kerala, Sreenidi Deccan, and Real Kashmir, along with newly promoted sides Diamond Harbour FC and Chanmari FC. Key Fact: The league will now be governed by a council of the clubs themselves, similar to the English Premier League model, to help them manage commercial rights better. Is I-League 2 Happening? Yes, it is. However, its structure has also seen some shifts to accommodate the new "tiered" system. Status: I-League 2 remains the third tier of Indian football. Promotion/Relegation: The bottom two teams from the current I-League (IFL) season will be relegated to I-League 2. Merger News: There have been recent discussions and reports about merging the lower divisions (I-League 2 and I-League 3) into a massive 40-team zonal competition to reduce travel costs for smaller clubs, though the AIFF is still finalizing the exact "final round" format for promotion into the I-League.