2025–26 Indian Football League
Football league season
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The 2025–26 Indian Football League, also known as the Star Cement Indian Football League for sponsorship reasons, is the fourth season of the Indian Football League as the second tier of the Indian football league system, which started on February 27, 2026.[2] Inter Kashi FC were the reigning champions, having won the 2024–25 I-League.
Season2025–26
DatesStage I: 27 February – 19 April
Stage II: 24 April – TBA[1]
Stage II: 24 April – TBA[1]
RelegatedChurchill Brothers
Matches51
Season poster | |
| Season | 2025–26 |
|---|---|
| Dates | Stage I: 27 February – 19 April Stage II: 24 April – TBA[1] |
| Relegated | Churchill Brothers |
| Matches | 51 |
| Goals | 156 (3.06 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Marcus Joseph (7 goals) |
| Biggest home win | Shillong Lajong 6–1 Aizawl (18 April 2026) |
| Biggest away win | Namdhari 1–4 Chanmari (17 April 2026) |
| Highest scoring | Namdhari 4–5 Diamond Harbour (6 April 2026) |
| Longest winning run | Diamond Harbour (5 matches) |
| Longest unbeaten run | Diamond Harbour (9 matches) |
| Longest winless run | Real Kashmir (7 matches) |
| Longest losing run | Real Kashmir Namdhari (4 matches) |
← 2024–25 2026–27 →
All statistics correct as of 1 May 2026. | |
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.[3][4]
- On 15 February 2026, the AIFF announced that the rebranded 2025–26 Indian Football League season will feature a two-stage format. Stage 1 will see the 10 participating clubs compete in a single-leg home-and-away round-robin format. In Stage 2, the teams get divided into two groups. Those that finished in the top half in Stage 1 will advance to a home-and-away championship round, while the bottom half will compete in a centralised relegation round. All points from Stage 1 will be carried forward to Stage 2. The league toppers at the end of Stage 2 will be crowned the Indian Football League champions and will be promoted to the 2026–27 Indian Super League.[5]
- On 8th April 2026, the AIFF informed all clubs that going forward all matches would be played in the evenings under lights to increase primetime viewership. Hence, floodlights would have to be mandatory in every stadium, failing which a fine of 9 lakhs would be imposed in each instance the club failed to comply.[6]
Club changes
The following clubs have changed division since the 2024–25 season:
| # | Club | Path |
|---|---|---|
| Entered IFL | ||
| 1 | Diamond Harbour | Promotion from I-League 2  |
| 2 | Chanmari | |
| Exited IFL | ||
| 1 | Inter Kashi | Promotion to ISL |
| 2 | Sporting Bengaluru | Relegation to Indian Footbal League 2  |
| 3 | Delhi | |
| 4 | Churchill Brothers | Withdrew |
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 entered Indian Football League One in this season.[7]
Churchill Brothers withdrew from the tournament.[8]
Clubs
Aizawl
Locations of the Indian Football League teams
| Team | State/UT | City | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aizawl | Mizoram | Aizawl | Rajiv Gandhi Stadium | 20,000 |
| Chanmari | ||||
| Dempo | Goa | Carambolim | Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium | 19,000 |
| Diamond Harbour | West Bengal | Diamond Harbour | Bankimanjali Stadium | 15,000 |
| Kalyani Stadium | 20,000 | |||
| 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 |  R Lalruatfela |
Vanlalhriatpuia |
Vamos[9] | NECS Limited[10] |
| Chanmari | Dipankur Sharma |
Zothanmawia |
Six5Six | LESDE Mizoram |
| Diamond Harbour |  Kibu Vicuña |
Jobby Justin |
Nautica | Birla Tyres |
| Dempo | Samir Naik |
Ariston Costa |
Shiv Naresh | Dempo |
| Gokulam Kerala |  Dimitris Dimitriou |
Nili |
FLY HIGH | Sree Gokulam |
| Namdhari | Harpreet Singh |
Jaskaranpreet Singh |
SPS Hospitals[11] | Namdharis |
| Rajasthan United | Vikas Rawat |
Bhabindra Malla Thakuri |
King Sports | Vertak Group |
| Real Kashmir | Ishfaq Ahmed |
Mohammad Inam |
Hummel | Livpure |
| Shillong Lajong | Birendra Thapa |
Kenstar Kharshong |
King Sports | Meghalaya Tourism |
| Sreenidi Deccan |  Carlos Vaz Pinto |
 David Castañeda |
Six5Six | Sreenidhi Sports |
Managerial changes
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in the table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gokulam Kerala | Renjith TA |
End of interim spell | 6 June 2025 | Pre-season | José Hevia |
6 June 2025[12] |
| Shillong Lajong | José Hevia |
Mutual consent | 5 June 2025 | Birendra Thapa |
18 July 2025[13] | |
| Sreenidi Deccan | Ishant Singh |
End of interim spell | 11 November 2025 | Carlos Vaz Pinto |
12 November 2025 | |
| Chanmari | Dipankur Sharma |
End of contract | 31 May 2025 | Victor Lalbiakmawia |
20 February 2026 | |
| Gokulam Kerala | José Hevia |
Mutual Consent | 10 January 2026 | Derrick Pereira |
11 January 2026 | |
| Gokulam Kerala | Derrick Pereira |
Re-appointed as technical director | 5 March 2026 | 9th | Dimitris Dimitriou |
6 March 2026[14] |
| Chanmari | Victor Lalbiakmawia |
Sacked | 26 March 2026 | 7th | Dipankur Sharma |
26 March 2026[15] |
Foreign players
Bold denotes the player was signed mid-season.
| Team | Player 1 | Player 2 | Player 3 | Player 4 | Player 5 | Player 6 | Unregistered player(s) | Former player(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aizawl |  Higor Gomes |
Luis Rodriguez |
 Timur Talipov |
|||||
| Chanmari | Joao Vitor Morais |
Pedro Lucas |
Marlon Rangel |
 Emmanuel Badu |
 Kyle Degelman |
|||
| Diamond Harbour |  Sunday Afolabi |
 Luka Majcen |
Mikel Kortazar |
Antonio Moyano |
Hugo Díaz |
|||
| Dempo |  Damian Perez Roa |
Sebastián Gutiérrez |
José Luis Moreno |
Richmond Kwasi Owusu |
 Aubin Kouakou |
 Marcus Joseph |
||
| Gokulam Kerala |  Amid Arezou |
 Aminou Bouba |
Armand Bazié |
 Thabiso Brown |
Benjamin Kuku |
Mirjalol Kasimov |
Nili |
John Kennedy |
| Namdhari | Francis Addo |
Lamine Moro |
Najib Fuseini |
 Abdoulaye Diallo |
 Milos Gordic |
|||
| Rajasthan United | Jonathan Fernandes |
 Amadou Soukouna |
Abdul Samed Ango |
Isaac Nortey |
Gerard Artigas |
Jordan Lamela |
Cedric Gogoua Pedro Astray | |
| Real Kashmir | Marius Obekop |
Kamal Issah |
Mamoud Oshie |
Djakaridja Traore |
Habib Fofana |
Shedrack Charles |
 Fandje Toure | |
| Shillong Lajong | ||||||||
| Sreenidi Deccan | Paulo Cezar |
Fabrice Kah |
David Castañeda |
 Roly Bonevacia |
Pape Gassama |
 Hadi Idrissou |
First stage
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Diamond Harbour | 9 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 22 | 12 | +10 | 22 | Promotion round |
| 2 | Shillong Lajong | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 9 | +7 | 17[a] | |
| 3 | Rajasthan United | 9 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 10 | +3 | 17[a] | |
| 4 | Sreenidi Deccan | 9 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 8 | +2 | 15 | |
| 5 | Chanmari | 9 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 14 | 15 | −1 | 11 | |
| 6 | Dempo | 9 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 9[b] | |
| 7 | Aizawl | 9 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 13 | 22 | −9 | 9[b] | Relegation round |
| 8 | Real Kashmir | 9 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 15 | 14 | +1 | 8[c] | |
| 9 | Gokulam Kerala | 9 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 18 | −7 | 8[c] | |
| 10 | Namdhari | 9 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 12 | 18 | −6 | 7 |
Source: IFL
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)
Notes:
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)
Notes:
Fixtures and results
Results by games
Positions by round
Promotion round
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Diamond Harbour | 10 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 24 | 12 | +12 | 25 | Promotion to ISL |
| 2 | Shillong Lajong | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 16 | 9 | +7 | 18 | |
| 3 | Sreenidi Deccan | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 12 | 9 | +3 | 18 | |
| 4 | Rajasthan United | 11 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 14 | 13 | +1 | 17 | |
| 5 | Dempo | 11 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 15 | 14 | +1 | 13 | |
| 6 | Chanmari | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 14 | 17 | −3 | 11 |
Updated to match(es) played on 1 May 2026. Source: IFL
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)
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
Results by games
Positions by round
Relegation round
Points table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aizawl | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 15 | 23 | −8 | 12 | |
| 2 | Real Kashmir | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 18 | 14 | +4 | 11 | |
| 3 | Gokulam Kerala | 10 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 11 | 21 | −10 | 8 | |
| 4 | Namdhari | 10 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 13 | 20 | −7 | 7 | Relegation to IL2 |
Updated to match(es) played on 30 April 2026. Source: IFL
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)
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
Results by games
Positions by round
Season statistics
Top scorers
| Rank | Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amadou Soukouna |
Rajasthan United | 4 |
| Marcus Joseph |
Dempo | ||
| 3 | Phrangki Buam |
Shillong Lajong | 3 |
| Antonio Moyano |
Diamond Harbour | ||
| Fabrice Kah |
Sreenidi Deccan | ||
| Halicharan Narzary |
Diamond Harbour | ||
| 18 | Zomuansanga |
Aizawl FC | 3 |
| Shedrack Charles |
Real Kashmir | ||
| Lalhriatpuia |
Aizawl | ||
| Luka Majcen |
Diamond Harbour | ||
| Manvir Singh |
Namdhari | ||
| Vincent Lalduhawma |
Aizawl | ||
| Laldawngzuala |
Aizawl | ||
| Joao Vitor Morais |
Chanmari | ||
| Hadi Idrissou |
Sreenidi Deccan | ||
| Everbrightson Mylliempdah |
Shillong Lajong | ||
| Seilenthang Lotjem |
Namdhari | ||
| Thabiso Brown |
Gokulam Kerala | ||
| Rahul Raju |
Gokulam Kerala | ||
| Hugo Díaz |
Diamond Harbour | ||
| 21 | K Vanlalhriatzuala |
Aizawl | 1 |
| Abdoulaye Diallo |
Namdhari | ||
| Abhishek Ambekar |
Rajasthan United | ||
| Mohammad Inam |
Real Kashmir | ||
| Aubin Kouakou |
Dempo | ||
| Paulo Cezar |
Sreenidi Deccan | ||
| Lalruatsanga |
Chanmari | ||
| Seijoseph Haokip |
Real Kashmir | ||
| Kenstar Kharshong |
Shillong Lajong | ||
| Suanngaihmuana |
Chanmari | ||
| KC Malsawmsanga |
Chanmari | ||
| Sebastián Gutiérrez |
Dempo | ||
| Najib Fuseini |
Namdhari | ||
| Ahteeb Ahmad Dar |
Real Kashnir | ||
| Gladdy Nelcen Kharbuli |
Shillong Lajong | ||
| P Christopher Kamei |
Chanmari | ||
| Moses Lalrinzuala |
Gokulam Kerala | ||
| Mirjalol Kasimov |
Gokulam Kerala | ||
| Malsawmsanga Renthlei |
Chanmari | ||
| R Lalbiakliana |
Sreenidi Deccan | ||
| Richmond Kwasi Owusu |
Dempo | ||
| Jonathan Fernandes |
Rajasthan United | ||
| Tharpuia |
Diamond Harbour | ||
| Treimiki Lamurong |
Shillong Lajong | ||
| Trijoy Savio Dias |
Gokulam Kerala | ||
| Malsawmzuala Tlangte |
Aizawl | ||
| Pangambam Naoba Meitei |
Rajasthan United | ||
| Bidyashagar Singh |
Namdhari | ||
| Djakaridja Junior Traoré |
Real Kashmir | ||
| Sunday Afolabi |
Diamond Harbour |
Hat-tricks
Top assists
| Rank | Player | Team | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | H Lalrempuia |
Aizawl | 3 |
| Bryce Miranda |
Diamond Harbour | ||
| 3 | Vincent Lalduhawma |
Aizawl | 2 |
| Sebastian Gutierrez |
Dempo | ||
| Shedrack Charles |
Real Kashmir | ||
| Gladdy Nelcen Kharbuli |
Shillong Lajong | ||
| Laltlanzova |
Aizawl | ||
| Thabiso Brown |
Gokulam Kerala | ||
| Antonio Moyano |
Diamond Harbour | ||
| 10 | Laldawngzuala |
Aizawl | 1 |
| Seijoseph Haokip |
Real Kashmir | ||
| Abdoulaye Diallo |
Namdhari | ||
| Joao Vitor Morais |
Chanmari | ||
| Hardik Bhatt |
Sreenidi Deccan | ||
| Aron Vanlalrinchhana |
Chanmari | ||
| Hugo Diaz |
Diamond Harbour | ||
| P Christopher Kamei |
Chanmari | ||
| Marcus Joseph |
Dempo | ||
| Balkaran Singh |
Namdhari | ||
| Jaskaranpreet Singh |
Namdhari | ||
| David Castaneda |
Sreenidi Deccan | ||
| Jobby Justin |
Diamond Harbour | ||
| Phrangki Buam |
Shillong Lajong | ||
| Jordan Lamela |
Rajasthan United | ||
| Jakob Vanlalhlimpuia |
Shillong Lajong | ||
| Karan Kumar Sharma |
Namdhari | ||
| Paulo Cezar |
Sreenidi Deccan | ||
| Joel Lalramengmawia |
Chanmari | ||
| Manbir Singh |
Namdhari | ||
| Jagdeep Singh |
Sreenidi Deccan | ||
| Lalromawia |
Sreenidi Deccan | ||
| Knerkitalang Buam |
Dempo | ||
| Damaitphang Lyngdoh |
Shillong Lajong | ||
| Trijoy Savio Dias |
Gokulam Kerala | ||
| Rahul Raju |
Gokulam Kerala | ||
| Moses Lalrinzuala |
Gokulam Kerala | ||
| Jonathan Fernandes |
Rajasthan United | ||
| Gautam Virwani |
Rajasthan United | ||
| Basit Ahmed Bhat |
Real Kashmir |
Clean sheets
| Rank | Player | Team | Clean sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shibinraj Kunniyil |
Gokulam Kerala | 2 |
| Bhabindra Malla Thakuri |
Rajasthan United | ||
| Kamaljit Singh |
Sreenidi Deccan | ||
| Siwel Rymbai |
Shillong Lajong | ||
| 5 | Zothanmawia |
Chanmari | 1 |
| Bhaskar Roy |
Sreenidi Deccan | ||
| Aryan Niraj Lamba[17] |
Sreenidi Deccan | ||
| Dheeraj Singh |
Diamond Harbour | ||
| Niraj Kumar |
Namdhari |
Attendance
Overall
Awards
| Player of the match | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match no. | Player | Team | Match no. | Player | Team | Match no. | Player | Team |
| 1 | Nishan Singh |
Namdhari | 2 | Zothanmawia |
Chanmari | 3 | Fabrice Kah |
Sreenidi Deccan |
| 4 | Sebastian Guiterrez |
Dempo | 5 | Amadou Soukouna |
Rajasthan United | 6 | Vincent Lalduhawma |
Aizawl |
| 7 | Niraj Kumar |
Namdhari | 8 | Joao Vitor Morais |
Chanmari | 9 | Hugo Díaz |
Diamond Harbour |
| 10 | Phrangki Buam |
Shillong Lajong | 11 | Marcus Joseph |
Dempo | 12 | Amadou Soukouna (2) |
Rajasthan United |
| 13 | Ahteeb Ahmad Dar |
Real Kashmir | 14 | Hardik Bhatt |
Sreenidi Deccan | 15 | Siwel Rymbai |
Shillong Lajong |
| 16 | Amadou Soukouna (3) |
Rajasthan United | 17 | Phrangki Buam (2) |
Shillong Lajong | 18 | Hadi Idrissou |
Sreenidi Deccan |
| 19 | Shibinraj Kunniyil |
Gokulam Kerala | 20 | Antonio Moyano |
Diamond Harbour | 21 | Laldawngzuala |
Aizawl |
| 22 | Niraj Kumar (2) |
Namdhari | 23 | Hadi Idrissou (2) |
Sreenidi Deccan | 24 | Abhishek Ambekar |
Rajasthan United |
| 25 | Treimiki Lamurong |
Shillong Lajong | 26 | Rahul Raju |
Gokulam Kerala | 27 | Amadou Soukouna (4) |
Rajasthan United |
| 28 | Kamaljit Singh |
Sreenidi Deccan | 29 | Hugo Díaz (2) |
Diamond Harbour | 30 | Bidyashagar Singh |
Namdhari |