After much delay, the fixtures of India’s second-tier league, I League, were announced by the All India Football Federation late Wednesday night.
The 18-edition of the tournament will kick off with Sreenidi Deccan taking on Gokulam Kerala in Deccan Arena on 22nd November 2024 and Inter Kashi playing Sporting Club Bengaluru later on the day in Kolkata.
The league has 12 teams operating on the promotion and relegation model between the Indian Super League (ISL) and I-League 2 respectively.
In the past, Punjab FC and Mohammedan Sporting were promoted to the Indian Super League.
Last season while MSC gained the promotion, the NorthEastern duo Neroca FC and TRAU FC found their way into the third tier.
Sporting Bengaluru and legendary Goan club Dempo SC are the latest entrants into the I-league after securing the top two spots in I-league 2 after 14 matches.
Dempo SC is the most successful side in the league’s history, having won three titles.
They will return to the I-league for the first time since their withdrawal in the 2016-17 season, while Sporting Bengaluru has climbed up the stairs through the BDFA Super Division, I-league 3, and I-league 2.
It will be Sporting Bengaluru’s first-ever I-league season, and they will be aiming to make it count.
The 12 teams playing in the league are Inter Kashi, Sporting Club Bengaluru, Sreenidi Deccan, Gokulam Kerala FC, Aizwal FC, Delhi FC, Churchill Brothers, Rajasthan United, Dempo SC, Real Kashmir FC, Shillong Lajong FC, and Namdhari.