Aizawl FC & Chanmari FC confirm participation in I-League 2025–26, seek fee deadline extension

Both Northeast clubs request additional time to pay league participation fees

Aizawl FC and Chanmari FC have confirmed their participation in the I-League 2025–26 season, ending days of uncertainty around their status after both clubs skipped the last I-League meeting held on 27 January 2026.

Along with Churchill Brothers, the two Northeast clubs were absent from the meeting, following which the All India Football Federation (AIFF) sought Executive Committee approval to rebrand the I-League as the Indian Football League. During the subsequent press conference, AIFF officials indicated that Aizawl FC and Chanmari FC were keen to participate, but no formal confirmation had been received at that stage.

AIFF had set 2 February 2026 as the deadline for payment of the league participation fee, fixed at ₹23.60 lakh (including GST). All eight clubs that attended the meeting completed their payments by the deadline.

“Aizawl FC and Chanmari FC missed the participation fee payment deadline, but both clubs have now officially confirmed their participation by writing to AIFF and have requested an extension to pay the participation fee,” an AIFF official told Khel Now, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.

Chanmari FC are currently coordinating with the Government of Mizoram to arrange payment.

“We are writing to confirm our participation in this season’s I-League, with the State Government of Mizoram to pay our participation fee,” Chanmari FC president Vanlalruatfamkima stated in an email sent to the AIFF Deputy General Secretary.

“As this involves government procedures and protocols, the processing and disbursement will require additional time beyond the stipulated deadline of 2 February 2026,” he added.

Aizawl FC, in a separate communication, have requested three additional working days to complete the payment. The club has also asked AIFF to consider rescheduling the league start date from 21 February to 28 February 2026.

Newly proposed I-League 2025–26 format

The proposed format for the I-League 2025–26 season will feature a two-stage structure.

Stage 1 will follow a single-leg home-and-away round-robin format. Match scheduling at this stage will be handled through an AI-based system, aimed at ensuring fairness and removing manual intervention.

Stage 2 will split the league into two groups based on Stage 1 standings.

• Teams finishing in the top half will compete in the championship round, played home and away.
• The bottom half will enter a relegation round, conducted in a centralised format.

The top three teams from Stage 1 will be rewarded with a higher number of home matches in Stage 2. Venue allocation will be decided through a draw after Stage 1 concludes.

The final league standings, including the champions, will be determined by the cumulative points earned across both stages.

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