Wikipedia - I-League 2

The I-League 2 is an Indian men's professional football league. It is the 3rd tier of the Indian football league system, behind the Indian Super League and the I-League. It operates as a system of promotion and relegation with the I-League and the I-League 3.

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

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

Due to the COVID-19 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.

I-League Qualifiers logo

After making of I-League as second division of Indian football, the AIFF decided to rename 2nd Division to I-league 2.

I-League 2nd Division logo