I-League Qualifiers

I-League 2, previously known as I-League 2nd Division and officially known as or Hero I-League 2 (for sponsorship ties with Hero MotoCorp), is an Indian men's professional football league. It is the 3rd tier of Indian football, behind Indian Super League and I-League. It operates as a system of promotion with I-League (final qualifying phase of state leagues teams). In 2020, due to COVID-19 pandemic in India, the league format was changed into I-League Qualifiers. To avoid confusion with I-League being the second tier, the league was renamed to I-League 2 by AIFF in 2022.

The 2nd Division league was introduced from the 2008 season, having been previously known as the National Football League 2nd Division. State FA's nominate teams who have finished at the top of their respective state leagues (or passing the required criteria). They are later to be approved by AIFF to participate in the league or consequent qualifiers, regarding the number of nominations.

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, Vasco and Chirag United promoted to I-League. The next season saw Pune, Shillong Lajong, Viva Kerala and Salgaocar getting promoted.

Since 2010, only top 2 teams were promoted to I-League. ''ONGC'' and ''HAL'' in that year, in 2011 ''Shillong Lajong'' and ''Sporting Clube de Goa'', with Lajong being promoted for the second time, while in 2012 ''ONGC'' and ''United Sikkim'' were promoted for upcoming season. The 2013 season saw ''Rangdajied United FC'' and ''Mohammedan'' qualifying for 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 (''Aizawl F.C.''), and only one was relegated from I-League (''Dempo'').

Due to the covid 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 I-League the second division of Indian football, to avoid confusion 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

In a meeting on December 16, 2022, the AIFF League Committee has recommended that States that have conducted their state leagues in 2021-22 (12) will nominate a club each for the Hero I-League 2, with six reserve teams of the Hero ISL clubs will also join them for the league. A pre-tournament qualifier will be held for the teams from states that have not conducted their leagues in 2021-22, from which the top two teams will gain entry into the Hero I-League 2, bringing the total number of clubs in the league to 20.

These 20 teams, the Committee suggested, would be divided into four groups of five teams each, and will play each other in a round robin home and away format. The winners of each of the four groups, along with the best second-placed team will play in the Final Round, which will be a single-leg, round robin format in May, 2023.

Clubs

''Clubs participated in 2021 I-League 2nd Division'':

Source:

Former clubs

''Clubs participated in previous seasons of I-League 2nd Division:

Relegated teams (from

I-League to I-League 2nd Division)

Sponsorship & media coverage

Sponsorships

From 2008 to 2011 the league was sponsored by Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and was named the ONGC I-League 2nd Division. ONGC was also the title sponsor of the I-League. In October 2011 ONGC was dropped as a sponsor.

Broadcasters

Head coaches

Winning coaches

Champions

Players

Top scorers

Awards

The trophy

Prize money

As updated on 28 February 2018

Season awards

See also

* Football in India
* History of Indian football
* List of football clubs in India

References

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Professional sports leagues in India
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Sports leagues established in 2008
Sports leagues in India
Third level football leagues in Asia