RFDL 2025-26: ROI 1 Round 1 fixtures announced

The ROI 1 regional qualifiers kick off on January 2 in Imphal.

The Reliance Football Development League (RFDL) will usher in the 2025-26 season with a packed Round 1 schedule as six teams contest the Rest of India 1 regional qualifiers at SAI Ground in Imphal, beginning 2nd January on Friday. The opening round brings together returning contenders and emerging challengers aiming to set the tone early in a short, results-driven format.

The Round 1 fixtures feature Chhaygaon FC, Imphal Youth FC, Subansiri United FC, ASUFII FA, Classic FA and SAI RC, all teams who competed in the 2024-25 RFDL season. With qualification margins historically tight, early consistency will be critical as teams navigate a single-venue schedule that compresses preparation and recovery time.

Let us look at the teams participating in the Rest of India 1 regional qualifiers following the New Year:

Chhaygaon FC

The Assam-based football club are the 2024-25 Assam State Premier League champions. Chhaygaon will get an opportunity to rub shoulders with the RFDL elites like Mohun Bagan, East Bengal FC and Gokulam Kerala FC this season.

The team will be looking to create a structured buildup and compact defensive shape, as they open their campaign against SAI RC before facing Classic FA and Imphal Youth FC later in Round 1.

SAI RC

The club will be looking to cash in on their fourth appearance in the competition following their last appearance last season. SAI RC will get an opportunity to improve on their previous appearance as they look to progress past the regional qualifiers this time around.

The club had finished third in the regional qualifier standings behind Jamshedpur FC and Classic FA with three wins and two losses in their five games. Improvement in the final third will be a priority as they face Chhaygaon FC, ASUFII FA, Subansiri United FC, Classic FA and Imphal Youth FC in Round 1.

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Imphal Youth FC

The Manipur-based football club, which participates in the Manipur Premier League, will be looking to leave a strong first impression. The club will be looking to cash in on their technical depth and pace in wide areas against their opponents in the Round 1 games.

Imphal Youth FC face Classic FA in their round opener and will later meet Subansiri United FC and ASUFII FA, matchups that could define their qualification hopes and their future in the competition.

Classic FA

The Imphal-based club will be making their fourth appearance in the competition, and looking to move past their disappointment from last season in the Final. Classic FA fell at the final hurdle against Mohun Bagan, who walked out 3-0 winners at the Reliance Corporate Park in Mumbai.

The club will be determined to once again return to the big dance this season and show their mettle and get over the final hurdle. Round 1 will see the club facing the likes of Imphal Youth FC, Chhaygaon FC, ASUFII FA, SAI RC and Subansiri United FC, giving them little margin for error.

Subansiri United FC

The Arunachal Pradesh-based football club will be making their debut in the 2025-26 RFDL season. The runners-up of the Indrajit Namchoom Arunachal League will be looking to carry their momentum into the upcoming season and looking to spring a few surprises.

The club will admit their Round 1 schedule is demanding, with matches against ASUFII FA, Imphal Youth FC, SAI RC and Classic FA on the horizon. Managing squad rotation could be decisive given the density of fixtures for the club, looking to surprise fans.

ASUFII FA

Founded in 2022, the Manipur-based football club has participated in AIFF youth leagues like the U-18 Elite League in the past. The 2023-24 Manipur Premier League joint champions will be looking to translate their domestic success in the past to RFDL success this season.

ASUFII FA will need to make their chances count this time around as they open against Subansiri United FC and later meet SAI RC, Imphal Youth FC and Chhaygaon FC in Round 1.

RFDL 2025-26: Fixture List

January 2, 2026 (Friday)

Match No.	Fixture	Time	Venue
1.	Chhaygaon FC vs SAI RC	8:00 AM	SAI Ground, Imphal
2.	Imphal Youth FC vs Classic FA	10:30 AM	SAI Ground, Imphal
3.	Subansiri United FC vs ASUFII FA	13:30 PM	SAI Ground, Imphal

January 4, 2026 (Sunday)

Match No.	Fixture	Time	Venue
4.	Classic FA vs Chhaygaon FC	8:00 AM	SAI Ground, Imphal
5.	ASUFII FA vs SAI RC	10:30 AM	SAI Ground, Imphal
6.	Subansiri United FC vs Imphal Youth FC	13:30 PM	SAI Ground, Imphal

January 6, 2026 (Tuesday)

Match No.	Fixture	Time	Venue
7.	Subansiri United FC vs SAI RC	8:00 AM	SAI Ground, Imphal
8.	ASUFII FA vs Classic FA	10:30 AM	SAI Ground, Imphal
9.	Chhaygaon FC vs Imphal Youth FC	13:30 PM	SAI Ground, Imphal

January 8, 2026 (Thursday)

Match No.	Fixture	Time	Venue
10.	Imphal Youth FC vs ASUFII FA	8:00 AM	SAI Ground, Imphal
11.	Subansiri United FC vs Chhaygaon FC	10:30 AM	SAI Ground, Imphal
12.	SAI RC vs Classic FA	13:30 PM	SAI Ground, Imphal

January 10, 2026 (Saturday)

Match No.	Fixture	Time	Venue
13.	Chhaygaon FA vs ASUFII FA	8:00 AM	SAI Ground, Imphal
14.	SAI RC vs Imphal Youth FC	10:30 AM	SAI Ground, Imphal
15.	Classic FA vs Subansiri United FC	13:30 PM	SAI Ground, Imphal

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