I-League 2


The Indian Football League 2, previously I-League 2, is an Indian men's professional football league. It is the 3rd tier of the Indian football league system, behind the Indian Super League and the I-League. It operates as a system of promotion and relegation with the I-League and the I-League 3.

History

I-League 2nd Division was introduced during the 2008 season, with first game played on 25 March between Mohammedan Sporting and Amity United.
That season saw Mohammedan Sporting, Mumbai FC, Vasco SC and Chirag United promoted to the I-League. The next season saw Pune FC, Shillong Lajong, Viva Kerala and Salgaocar getting promoted.
Since 2010, only top 2 teams were promoted to the I-League. ONGC FC and HAL SC in that year, in 2011 Shillong Lajong and Sporting Clube de Goa, with Lajong being promoted for the second time. In 2012, ONGC and United Sikkim were promoted for the upcoming season. The 2013 saw Rangdajied United FC and Mohammedan qualifying for the I-League.
In 2014, only one team got promoted from the 2nd Division, and similarly only one team got relegated from 2013–14 season.
In 2016, again only one team was promoted from the 2nd division, and only one was relegated from the I-League.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the traditional final round format was scrapped in 2020. It was decided that the league will be rescheduled into a new format and all non-reserve teams from the preliminary stage will automatically progress to this round. It was officially named as I-League Qualifiers.
After making of I-League as second division of Indian football, the AIFF decided to rename 2nd Division to I-league 2.

Competition format

2008–2015

Previously, the league was formatted as a neutral venue competition with teams split into groups in which all the groups play in one stadium each. The final round is contested in a double round-robin format, after which the top two teams get promoted to the I-League.

2015–2017

The I-League core committee approved the plans for the 2015–2016 I-League 2nd division matches to be played on a home and away basis. The preliminary rounds will be played as the conference system with the teams being divided into Eastern and Western conferences. Top 3 teams from each conference will qualify for the final round of the 2015–2016 season of 2nd division I-League.
To widen the football map of the country and to bolster the football structure, I-League committee decide to launch the 2nd division qualifier for 2016–2017 season. Participants from all the state associations would be invited to take part in 2nd division 2016–17 qualifiers. The state associations need to nominate two teams with best results, apart from the teams who would compete in Hero I-League and 2nd division league, from the state leagues to compete in the 2nd division qualifiers. The teams will fight it out amongst themselves in the zonal round followed by the final round. Eventually top two teams from the final round will get a nod to the 2nd division, provided that they fulfill the club licensing requirements in the due time.

2017–2018

The format was further altered from 2017–2018 season, the league was divided in two stages: the Preliminary and the Final. The tournament will also feature reserve teams of Indian Super League clubs. In the preliminary stage, 18 teams are divided into three groups where all matches would be played on a home and away basis. The winners of each group plus the best second-placed team would qualify for the final round. However, if reserve teams of ISL clubs finishes as winners or runners-up in any group, the position is passed on onto the next non-ISL team. The final round will be played at a central venue, the winners of which would be promoted to the next tier of Indian Football.

2018–2019

Sixteen teams were allowed to participate in this season by the league committee.

2021

A new format was introduced named as I-league qualifiers. 10 teams promoted from state leagues battled for I-league qualification.

2022–2023

In a meeting held on 16 December 2022, the AIFF league committee has recommended that states that have conducted their regional leagues in previous season nominate clubs for the Hero I-League 2, with six reserve teams of the Hero ISL also joining them. A pre-tournament qualifier was held for the teams from states that have not conducted their leagues in 2021–22, from which the top two teams gained entry into the Hero I-League 2, bringing the total number of clubs to 20.
These 20 teams are divided into the four groups of five and play each other in a round-robin home and away format. The group winners, along with the best second-placed team, play in the final round, a single-leg round robin format competition.

Clubs

ClubStateCityStadiumCapacity
Bengaluru UnitedKarnatakaBengaluruBangalore Football Stadium8,400
Karbi Anglong Morning StarAssamDiphuKASA Stadium9,000
MYJ–GMSCMaharashtraMumbaiCooperage Ground5,000
NEROCAManipurImphalKhuman Lampak Stadium35,285
SATKeralaTirurRG Municipal Stadium5,000
Sporting GoaGoaPanajiTilak Maidan5,000
UnitedWest BengalKalyaniKalyani Stadium20,000

All-time clubs

'
Pos.ClubCity1st2nd3rdAppearances
1'''MohammedanKolkata, West Bengal11135722734205125802391212008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2020
2VascoVasco da Gama, Goa55631101511065451030012008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
3Royal WahingdohShillong, Meghalaya45330111210849591011002011, 2012, 2013, 2014
4Lonestar Kashmir FCSrinagar, Jammu and Kashmir69224244497138-41960102015, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2020
5United SCKolkata, West Bengal56426152389872930012008, 2015, 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25
6Bengaluru UnitedBengaluru, Karnataka557241518845331870012020, 2021, 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25
7NEROCA FCImphal, Manipur350251015675215851012015–16, 2016–17, 2024-25
8KenkreMumbai, Maharashtra984221745107161-54830102011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2021, 2023-24
9Bhawanipore FCBhawanipore, West Bengal44522149785226800212012, 2013, 2014, 2020
10DempoPanaji, Goa3402479622933791102015–16, 2022-23, 2023-24
11Rangdajied UnitedShillong, Meghalaya44323812865630771002010, 2011, 2012, 2013
12ONGCMumbai, Maharashtra43922107662937762002008, 2009, 2010, 2012
13Southern SamityLake Gardens, West Bengal4522111206774-7740102011, 2012, 2013, 2016–17
14Langsning SCShillong, Meghalaya441201110774631710002011, 2012, 2013, 2017–18
15Aizawl FCAizawl, Mizoram44421716917219701002012, 2013, 2014, 2015
16TRAU FCImphal, Manipur3452091672675691002017–18, 2018–19, 2024-25
17Hindustan FCDelhi76618123671127-56660102010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19
18United SikkimGangtok, Sikkim339181110735617650102011, 2012, 2014
19Kalighat Milan SanghaKalighat, West Bengal33918912694336630012012, 2013, 2014
20Shillong LajongShillong, Meghalaya3291865532726601112009, 2011, 2022-23
21Sporting GoaPanaji, Goa33717812473611590112011, 2023-24, 2024-25
22Chanmari FCAizawl, Mizoram2301776713437580112015, 2024-25
23Fateh HyderabadHyderabad, Telangana44215121556524570002015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19
24Bengaluru FC Bengaluru, Karnataka44217510633825560002017–18, 2018–19, 2020, 2022-23
25Ozone FCBengaluru, Karnataka3321598592831540022016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19
26Sesa Football AcademySanquelim, Goa4351371557534460002009, 2010, 2011, 2012
27Techno AryanKolkata, West Bengal3211047432122440002011, 2012, 2013
28ARA FCAhmedabad, Gujarat4311281144422440002018–19, 2020, 2021, 2022-23
29KGF Academy Bengaluru, Karnataka42787124250-8410002010, 2011, 2012, 2013
30Delhi FCDelhi2191234441331391012021, 2022-23
31Delhi United FCDelhi333815103542-7390012013, 2016–17, 2017–18
32Diamond HarbourDiamond Harbour, West Bengal1161150281018381002024-25
33Real Kashmir FCSrinagar, Jammu and Kashmir219115330228381002016–17, 2017–18
34Minerva PunjabJalandhar, Punjab1181143301416370102015–16
35FC Goa Margao, Goa432107154245-3370002017–18, 2018–19, 2020, 2022-23
36Kerala Blasters Kochi, Kerala325104114144-3340002017–18, 2018–19, 2020
37Sporting BengaluruBengaluru, Karnataka1141103281216331002023-24
38Chhinga Veng FCAizawl, Mizoram1161033301713330102018–19
39Malabar United FCKochi, Kerala32389628271330002009, 2010, 2011
40HALBengaluru, Karnataka217944361917310102008, 2010
41Golden Threads FCKochi, Kerala42778113550-15290002010, 2011, 2012, 2022-23
42Chennaiyin FC Chennai, Tamilnadu43585203168-37290002017–18, 2018–19, 2020, 2022-23
43FC KeralaThrissur, Kerala21784528199280002017–18, 2020
44ATK Barasat, West Bengal21884625232280002018–19, 2020
45Sudeva DelhiDelhi2208482328-5280012016–17, 2023-24
46PunePune, Maharashtra21983826242270002008, 2009
47North Imphal SAImphal, Manipur21982926233260002010, 2011
48MumbaiMumbai, Maharashtra11081118513251002008
49Mumbai Tigers FCMumbai, Maharashtra11781827261250002013
50Jamshedpur Jamshedpur, Jharkhand32867152855-27250002017–18, 2018–19, 2020
51PIFA SportsMumbai, Maharashtra648593441117-76250002011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2015–16
52Garhwal FCDelhi2167362729-2240002014, 2020
53Ambernath United AtlantaMumbai, Maharashtra112723271710230012022-23
54Oil India FCDuliajan, Assam3225892934-5230002008, 2009, 2010
55Eagles FCKochi, Kerala42364132852-24220002011, 2012, 2013, 2014
56Downtown Heroes FCSrinagar, Jammu and Kashmir1116321587210002022-23
57Simla Youngs FCDelhi53149183378-45210002009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
58SalgaocarVasco da Gama, Goa196211257201002009
59Josco FCErnakulam, Kerala21462621210200002011, 2013
60Gangtok Himalayan S.C.Gangtok, Sikkim1184771620-4190002015–16
61SATTirur, Kerala1166462123-2220002024-25
62Green ValleyGuwahati, Assam3194782332-9190002012, 2013, 2014
63Viva KeralaKochi, Kerala19522211011170102009
64DSK ShivajiansPune, Maharashtra185211578170002013
65Amity United FCGurgaon, Haryana3155282029-9170002008, 2009, 2010
66Maharashtra OranjeMumbai, Maharashtra1144372025-5150002023-24
67Gauhati Town ClubGuwahati, Assam31943122034-14150002010, 2011, 2012
68South United FCBengaluru, Karnataka2153572228-6140002013, 2018–19
69Rainbow ACNew Barrackpore, West Bengal11034317161130002018–19
70Jagat Singh PalahiPhagwara, Punjab184131091130002022-23
71FC Pune City Pune, Maharashtra1102711091130002017-18
72New Delhi HeroesDelhi3153482527-2130002008, 2009, 2010
73Rajasthan UnitedJaipur, Rajasthan16330844121002021
74Techtro Swades United FCUna, Himachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh18404981120002022-23
75Hyderabad FC Hyderabad, Telangana2143381016-6120002020, 2022-23
76Samaleswari SCBhubaneswar, Odisha2153391727-10120002012, 2013
77George TelegraphKolkata, West Bengal2123181718-1100002009, 2013
78Chandni FCCalicut, Kerala3162410937-28100002009, 2010, 2011
79JCB Bhilai Brothers FCBhilai, Chhattisgarh16231106490002010
80Punjab FC Mohali, Punjab1630385390002020
81Guwahati FCGuwahati, Assam1823398190002015-16
82Indian Bank Recreational ClubChennai, Tamilnadu110307917-890002008
83Luangmual FCAizawl, Mizoram2142391640-2490002012, 2013
84Delhi Dynamos Delhi1922559-480002017–18
85East Bengal Kolkata, West Bengal1621388070002022-23
86Mumbai United ACMumbai, Maharashtra1621389-170002010
87RKM FANarayananpur, Chhattisgarh18215815-770002022-23
88Titanium FCTrivandrum, Kerala210145614-870002009, 2010
89Kerala United FCMalappuram, Kerala2112181134-2370002012, 2021
90Mumbai City Mumbai, Maharashtra2151410840-3270002020, 2022-23
91KLASABishnupur, Manipur1162113838-3070002024-25
92SBI KeralaTrivandrum, Kerala2102081019-960002008, 2010
93AU Rajasthan FCJaipur, Rajasthan1612347-350002020
94Madan Maharaj FCBhopal, Madhya Pradesh16123513-850002021
95Kohima KometsKohima, Nagaland18116425-2140002013
96Ryntih FCShillong, Meghalaya1310244030002021
97United Chirang DuarChirang district, Assam13102412-830002022-23
98Indian National FCDelhi16105315-1230002010
99Denzong BoysGangtok, Sikkim2120391035-2530002010, 2011
100Corbett FCRudrapur, Uttarakhand27025414-1020002021, 2022-23
101Bengal Mumbai FCMumbai, Maharashtra14013412-810002009
102Pride Sports FCJabalpur, Madhya Pradesh16006216-1400002016–17
103BLG Diamond RockBalaghat, Madhya Pradesh16006318-1500002022-23
104MP United FCIndore, Madhya Pradesh15005218-1600002014
105Madhya Bharat SCBhopal, Madhya Pradesh1100010339-3600002017–18