I League 2: Indian football’s third division to start on January 20, with a scheduled break for Santosh Trophy

The 2023 24 season of I League 2, featuring eight teams, is set to begin on in the third week of January and will have the promotion and relegation model, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced on Friday. The I League 2 will take a 40 day gap between February 12 and March 23 to accommodate the Santosh Trophy Final Round.

The league will run until the last week of April. AIFF Acting Secretary General Mr Satyanarayan M said, “The AIFF had a meeting with the eight I League 2 teams and we agreed to have a gap in between for the Santosh Trophy. It will be a great competitive league on a home and away basis, which will be good for all teams.” Sporting Clube de Goa, which became the inaugural champion of the I League 3 after finishing atop the Playoffs at the end of last year, is back on the national stage after seven years.

It was joined by five time I League/NFL champion Dempo SC and Sporting Club Bengaluru, who finished second and third, respectively. I League 2 is the division of men’s senior professional football division in India. It was introduced 16 years ago, in 2008, and the first match in the league was played between Mohammedan Sporting and Amity United.

In the 2023 24 season I League 2, eight teams will compete, with the top two teams earning promotion to I League next season while the bottom two will be relegated to the fourth division, I League 3. The eight teams include two clubs relegated from the 2022 23 I League (Mumbai Kenkre FC and Sudeva Delhi FC), three teams included from the 2022 23 I League 2 Final Round (FC Bengaluru United, United SC and The Oranje FC, formerly known as Ambernath United Atlanta FC) and three teams qualified from the 2024 25 I League 3 (Sporting Clube de Goa, Dempo SC and Sporting Club Bengaluru).

The 2023 24 season of I League 2 will kick off on Saturday, January 20, 2024. The league will be played on a home and away basis in a double round robin format, with the top two teams being promoted to the 2024 25 I League and the bottom two to be relegated to the 2024 25 I League 3. Comments Related Topics.