The 2023–24 I-League is the 17th season of the I-League, second season as the second tier of Indian football league system.
Changes from last season
Teams
Promoted to Indian Super League
RoundGlass Punjab
Relegated to I-League 2
Mumbai Kenkre
Sudeva Delhi
Promoted to I-League
Delhi FC
Shillong Lajong
Corporate entries
The AIFF accepted five bids for direct entry to I-League. Inter Kashi Namdhari Bunkerhill Pvt Ltd (Ambala) withdrew its bid after inking a majority shareholding in Mohammedan. Nimida United Sports Development Pvt Ltd (Bengaluru United) and Concatenate Advest Advisory Pvt Ltd (Delhi) were unable to fulfill the bid conditions.
Inter Kashi, from a tier-2 city (Varanasi), will have relegation immunity for two seasons; while Namdhari FC, from a tier-3 city (Sri Bhaini Sahib village), will be free from relegation for one season.
Rules
After the clubs requested to increase the maximum number of players allowed in a squad, the Committee decided to increase the player quota from 30 to 35. Clubs will also have to sign eight U-22 players.
Format
AIFF proposed to revamp the league format by dividing the 16 teams into two conferences or zones, similar to Major League Soccer, with the top 4 teams from each conference qualifying for the playoffs and the bottom four battling to avoid relegation, instead of traditional home-away format. The change was suggested to make the league cost-effective for clubs by reducing travel time. However, with only 13 teams left to participate in the league, the proposed changes were dropped in favor of the traditional home-away format.
Teams
13 teams compete in this edition of the I-League; nine from the previous season, two promoted from the 2022–23 I-League 2, and two with direct entry. Five teams are set to play their home games out of their home state or city because of various reasons.
2023–24 I-League clubs
Personnel and sponsorship
Coaching changes
Foreign players
Note: Players in bold have senior international cap(s) for their respective nations.
Initially, the AIFF committee decided to reduce registered foreign players to five in the squad and three in the starting line-up and remove the mandatory Asian quota.
However, on 22nd August 2023, the AIFF decided to retain the number of foreigners a club can sign in the I-League. Like the 2022–23 season, clubs can register six foreign players (including one from AFC member association) in their matchday squad. However, they can field only four (one must be from an AFC Member Association) at any given point during a match.
Regular season
League table
Fixtures & Results
Statistics
Top scorers
As of 30 October 2023
Top assists
As of 30 October 2023
Clean sheets
As of 31 October 2023
Attendances
Overall statistical table
Attendances by home matches
Legend:
Source: I-League
Awards
Hero of the match
See also
Men
2023–24 Indian Super League (Tier I) 2023–24 I-League 2 (Tier III) 2023–24 I-League 3 (Tier IV) 2023–24 Indian State Leagues (Tier V) 2024 Indian Super Cup 2023 Durand Cup 2024 Reliance Foundation Development League Women 2023–24 Indian Women's League 2023–24 IWL 2nd Division