TEN TEAMS have confirmed their participation in the shortened 2025-26 I-League season, India’s second-tier football competition, which is scheduled to begin on 21 February, PTI reported.
Of the 10 clubs, eight have already paid their contribution of approximately Rs 20 lakh each towards the overall cost of the delayed season. The deadline for payment was 2 February. “Eight clubs have paid the amount. Aizawl FC and Chanmari FC have also confirmed participation and they are expected to make the payment shortly,” a club source told PTI.
The eight clubs that have completed the payment process are Diamond Harbour, Real Kashmir, Gokulam Kerala, Rajasthan United, Dempo SC, Namdhari FC, Shillong Lajong and Sreenidi Deccan. Diamond Harbour of West Bengal and Chanmari FC of Mizoram earned promotion from the I-League Second Division in the 2024-25 season.
Churchill Brothers of Goa are almost certain to sit out the upcoming I-League campaign. The club was initially declared champions of the previous season and promoted to the Indian Super League (ISL). However, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) later ruled Inter Kashi as champions, leading to the Varanasi-based side’s promotion to the ISL. Churchill Brothers subsequently approached the Delhi High Court against the All India Football Federation (AIFF), and the matter remains sub judice.
The total cost of staging the 2025-26 I-League has been estimated at Rs 3.25 crore. Clubs will collectively contribute 60 per cent of the amount, roughly Rs 2 crore. The remaining 40 per cent will be borne by the AIFF through its commercial partner.
For the first time, the league will operate with a Governing Council and a Management Committee, comprising representatives from the clubs, the AIFF and commercial partners. The Governing Council will serve as the apex decision-making body, while the Management Committee will oversee day-to-day operations.
In the first phase, all clubs will compete in a single round-robin format with home-and-away fixtures. The second phase will see teams split into two groups, one competing for the championship and the other to determine relegation.
The championship round will be played in a single round-robin format, with teams carrying forward the points earned in the first phase. The club finishing top of the championship round will be crowned winners, with higher-ranked teams from the first phase enjoying home advantage against lower-ranked opponents.
In the relegation group, the bottom two teams after a single round-robin phase will be relegated to I-League 2.
