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AIFF Rebrands I-League to Indian Football League with New Format

The All India Football Federation has officially rebranded the I-League as the Indian Football League, effective from the 2025-26 season. The league will adopt a new two-stage format, starting with a round-robin stage followed by championship and relegation groups. An AI-based system will handle match scheduling to ensure complete fairness and eliminate human interference. The season is scheduled to commence on February 21, 2026.

Key Points: I-League Rebranded to Indian Football League for 2025-26

  • I-League renamed to Indian Football League
  • New two-stage competitive format
  • AI-based scheduling for fairness
  • Season starts Feb 2026
2 min read

AIFF announces rebranding of I-League to Indian Football League

AIFF rebrands I-League to Indian Football League, introduces new two-stage format and AI scheduling for the 2025-26 season.

"approved the rebranding of the I-League to the Indian Football League from the 2025-26 season - AIFF Statement"

New Delhi, February 13

The All India Football Federation announced the rebranding of the I-League, the country's second-tier football competition, to the Indian Football League.

Taking to their official Instagram handle, AIFF wrote, "The All India Football Federation's Executive Committee, in an online meeting on Thursday, approved the rebranding of the I-League to the Indian Football League from the 2025-26 season."

"The Committee further ratified the charter for the Governing Council of the Indian Super League and the Indian Football League," added the statement.

Earlier this January, the owners and representatives of I-League clubs met with AIFF officials in New Delhi to propose the structure and operational framework for the upcoming I-League 2025-26 season.

It was proposed to form a Governing Council and a Managing Committee. This proposal will be placed before the AIFF's Executive Committee (EC). The charter for the Governing Council, along with the Management Committee's roles and responsibilities, will be presented to the EC for approval, as per the AIFF website.

Per the clubs' proposal, the I-League 2025-26 season will feature a two-stage format. Stage 1 will feature the participating clubs competing in a single-leg, home-and-away round-robin format.

In Stage 2, the teams are 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 the initial stage will carry over to preserve the league's competitive context.

The season is scheduled to commence on February 21, 2026. To ensure complete fairness, match scheduling is to be handled by an AI-based system to eliminate human interference. Furthermore, match production will be maintained in accordance with the standards established last season.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
The new two-stage format with an AI-based scheduler is interesting. Should make the league more competitive and fair. But will the smaller clubs have the budget for the extra travel in the championship round? The devil is in the details.
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Rohit P
Changing the name is fine, but what about the promotion to ISL? That's the real issue. We need a clear pyramid. Without a direct promotion path, IFL will remain a "second-tier" no matter what you call it. AIFF needs to focus on that integration.
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Priya S
As a fan from Kerala, I just want to see more matches on TV! I hope this rebranding means better broadcast deals and production quality. We have so much passion for football here, give us easy access to watch our teams play.
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Vikram M
Respectfully, this feels like putting lipstick on a pig. The problem isn't the name, it's the funding and grassroots development. Will the "Indian Football League" actually get more sponsors and investment for the clubs? That's the real question.
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Michael C
The AI scheduling to eliminate bias is a great step forward. Human interference in fixture lists has been a complaint in many leagues. If implemented well, this could set a new standard for fairness in Indian sports administration.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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