The I-League 3 is a men's professional football league in India. It forms the fourth tier of the Indian football league system, below the I-League 2 and above the State leagues.[2][3]

I-League 3
Organising bodyAIFF
Founded13 June 2023; 10 months ago (2023-06-13)
CountryIndia
ConfederationAFC
Number of teams25
Level on pyramid4
Promotion toI-League 2
Relegation toState leagues
Domestic cup(s)
Current championsSporting Goa (1st title)[1]
Most championshipsSporting Goa (1 title)
TV partnersSportsKPI
Indian Football (YouTube)
WebsiteI-League.org
Current: 2024–25

History

For the first time, the AIFF introduced qualifiers for the I-League 2 in the 2022–23 season.[4] On 13 June 2023, the AIFF league committee announced introducing a new league below the I-League 2, where champions of State leagues and nominated clubs will play. State FAs have to nominate a team before July 31.[5] The AIFF wants to create a competitive pyramid with a concrete progression pathway, aimed to allow even the smallest of clubs to get promoted to the higher divisions.

Clubs

There are total 22 clubs competing in the I-League 3.

Current clubs

 
 
 
 
New Friends
 
Doaba United
 
International
 
Jaipur Elite
 
KIYC
 
Abbas Union
 
 
Delhi
 
Delhi clubs
Garhwal
Vatika
 
Mumbai
Locations of the I-League 3 clubs
No. Club City State League Position
1 RKM Narayanpur Chhattisgarh 2023 Chhattisgarh State Men's Football League Championship 1st
2 New Friends Bade Bacheli 2nd
3 Vatika New Delhi Delhi 2022–23 Delhi Premier League 1st
4 Garhwal 3rd
5 Baroda Vadodara Gujarat 2022–23 Gujarat SFA Club Championship 1st
6 ARA Ahemedabad 2nd
7 Kickstart Bangalore Karnataka 2022–23 Bangalore Super Division 1st
8 Lake City Bhopal Madhya Pradesh 2022–23 Madhya Pradesh Premier League 1st
9 International Phagwara Punjab 2022 Punjab State Super Football League 3rd
10 Doaba United Jalandhar 4th
11 Jaipur Elite Jaipur Rajasthan 2022 R-League A Division 1st
12 Millat Mumbai Maharashtra 2022–23 MFA Elite Division 3rd
13 Bhawanipore Kolkata West Bengal 2022 Calcutta Premier Division 2nd
14 Diamond Harbour Diamond Harbour 2022 Calcutta First Division 3rd
15 Kerala United Malappuram Kerala 2022–23 Kerala Premier League Champions[b]
16 Rangdajied United Shillong Meghalaya 2022-23 Meghalaya State League 1st
17 KLASA Bishnupur Manipur 2022 Manipur State League Champions[b]
18 KIYC Imphal Semifinalist[b]
19 United Chirang Duar Chirang Assam 2023 ATPA Shield Champions[c]
20 Sports Odisha Cuttack Odisha 2023 FAO Super Cup Champions[b]
21 Abbas Union Hyderabad Telangana Rahim League “A” Division -
22 Jeppiaar Institute of Technology Pondicherry Pondicherry Pondicherry Men's League Championship -
  1. ^ Participation via an invitation
  2. ^ a b c d The club qualified via a cup or knock-out tournament after the conclusion of the league stage
  3. ^ No state or district league conducted.
Relegated clubs from I-League 2 to I-League 3
Season Clubs
2023–24 Kenkre, Maharashtra Oranje

Results

Source:[6]
Season Champions Runners-up Third place No. of teams
2023–24 Sporting Goa Dempo Sporting Bengaluru 25

See also

References

  1. ^ Times, Navhind (31 December 2023). "Sporting Clube de Goa crowned I-League 3 champions – The Navhind Times". Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  2. ^ "Five teams submit bids for direct Hero I-League entry". www.the-aiff.com. Archived from the original on 14 June 2023. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  3. ^ "Record five bids for I-League; no ISL reserves in 2nd and 3rd divisions". Hindustan Times. 13 June 2023. Archived from the original on 15 June 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
  4. ^ Chatterjee, Triyasha (1 May 2023). "I-League: AIFF League Committee inflict 3-TIER BIDDING structure for DIRECT entry into I-League 2023-24- Check Out". Inside Sport India. Retrieved 31 December 2023.
  5. ^ "AIFF League committee announce I-League direct entry bidders and revamped league structure for IWL". Khel Now. Archived from the original on 13 June 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
  6. ^ "I-League 3 2023 — Final Standings (Play-off's)". the-aiff.com. All India Football Federation. Archived from the original on 31 December 2023. Retrieved 30 December 2023.