I-League 3 2026-27, the fourth tier of Indian men’s football, kicks off on October 22, 2026, with 19 clubs split into four groups across Rudrapur, Shillong, Imphal and Mapusa.
Groups B and C open October 22, Group A starts October 26, and Group D begins November 1; the group stage ends November 9. Four group winners and two best runners-up reach a six-team play-off, with the top two promoted to I-League 2.
Every match streams live on the Indian Football YouTube channel.
I-League 3 2026-27 Schedule and Fixtures
All times are in IST.
Group A: Khuman Lampak Stadium, Imphal
| Date | Match | Fixture | Kick-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 26 | 1 | TRAU FC vs KLASA FC | 09:00 |
| Oct 26 | 2 | NEROCA FC vs Southern Sporting Union | 15:00 |
| Oct 28 | 3 | KLASA FC vs Southern Sporting Union | 09:00 |
| Oct 28 | 4 | TRAU FC vs NEROCA FC | 15:00 |
| Oct 30 | 5 | NEROCA FC vs KLASA FC | 09:00 |
| Oct 30 | 6 | Southern Sporting Union vs TRAU FC | 15:00 |
Group B: Amenity Football Academy, Rudrapur
| Date | Match | Fixture | Kick-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 22 | 1 | Corbett FC vs Techtro Swades United FC | 09:00 |
| Oct 22 | 2 | Ghaziabad City FC vs Sher-e-Punjab SC | 15:00 |
| Oct 24 | 3 | Techtro Swades United FC vs Ghaziabad City FC | 09:00 |
| Oct 24 | 4 | Garhwal Heroes FC vs Corbett FC | 15:00 |
| Oct 26 | 5 | Ghaziabad City FC vs Garhwal Heroes FC | 09:00 |
| Oct 26 | 6 | Sher-e-Punjab SC vs Techtro Swades United FC | 15:00 |
| Oct 28 | 7 | Garhwal Heroes FC vs Sher-e-Punjab SC | 09:00 |
| Oct 28 | 8 | Corbett FC vs Ghaziabad City FC | 15:00 |
| Oct 30 | 9 | Sher-e-Punjab SC vs Corbett FC | 09:00 |
| Oct 30 | 10 | Techtro Swades United FC vs Garhwal Heroes FC | 15:00 |
Group C: SSA Stadium, Shillong
| Date | Match | Fixture | Kick-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 22 | 1 | Lakecity FC vs Godavari FC | 09:00 |
| Oct 22 | 2 | Nongkseh SS&CC vs Kuppuraj FC | 17:00 |
| Oct 24 | 3 | Kuppuraj FC vs Lakecity FC | 09:00 |
| Oct 24 | 4 | Chhaygaon FC vs Nongkseh SS&CC | 17:00 |
| Oct 26 | 5 | Lakecity FC vs Chhaygaon FC | 09:00 |
| Oct 26 | 6 | Godavari FC vs Kuppuraj FC | 15:00 |
| Oct 28 | 7 | Chhaygaon FC vs Godavari FC | 09:00 |
| Oct 28 | 8 | Nongkseh SS&CC vs Lakecity FC | 17:00 |
| Oct 30 | 9 | Kuppuraj FC vs Chhaygaon FC | 09:00 |
| Oct 30 | 10 | Godavari FC vs Nongkseh SS&CC | 17:00 |
Group D: Duler Stadium, Mapusa
| Date | Match | Fixture | Kick-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 1 | 1 | Clube de Salgaocar vs Zinc Football Academy | 09:00 |
| Nov 1 | 2 | RT Boys FC vs GOG FCC | 16:00 |
| Nov 3 | 3 | Zinc Football Academy vs RT Boys FC | 09:00 |
| Nov 3 | 4 | Kickstart FC vs Clube de Salgaocar | 16:00 |
| Nov 5 | 5 | RT Boys FC vs Kickstart FC | 09:00 |
| Nov 5 | 6 | GOG FCC vs Zinc Football Academy | 16:00 |
| Nov 7 | 7 | Kickstart FC vs GOG FCC | 09:00 |
| Nov 7 | 8 | Clube de Salgaocar vs RT Boys FC | 16:00 |
| Nov 9 | 9 | Zinc Football Academy vs Kickstart FC | 09:00 |
| Nov 9 | 10 | GOG FCC vs Clube de Salgaocar | 16:00 |
Play-off dates and the host city had not been announced in the sources I used. Watch AIFF’s official channels for them.
I-League 3 2026-27 at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Competition | I-League 3 (fourth tier, Indian men’s football) |
| Organiser | All India Football Federation (AIFF) |
| Season start | October 22, 2026 |
| Group stage ends | November 9, 2026 |
| Number of clubs | 19 |
| Groups | Four (A, B, C, D) |
| Group format | Single round-robin |
| Play-off qualifiers | 4 group winners + 2 best second-placed teams |
| Promotion | Top two play-off teams go up to I-League 2 (2027-28 season) |
| Live streaming | Indian Football YouTube channel |
What Is I-League 3? Understanding Indian Football’s Fourth Tier
AIFF announced I-League 3 on June 13, 2023. It sits below I-League 2 and above the state leagues. State champions and nominated clubs play in it, which gives small clubs a route up the Indian football pyramid. Few leagues in the country give grassroots clubs such a clear promotion path.
The tournament has changed shape each season. The 2023-24 and 2024-25 editions had 25 clubs. Last season began with 20 teams and ended up with 19 after Kuppuraj withdrew. This year’s field is 19 again, and the format is simpler: one round-robin group stage, then a centralised play-off.
I-League 3 2026-27 Format and Promotion Rules
Each club plays every other club in its group once. Four-team Group A has six matches, and the five-team groups (B, C and D) have ten each, so the group stage totals 36 matches.
- Group winners: all four advance to the play-offs.
- Best runners-up: the two strongest second-placed teams across all groups also qualify.
- Play-offs: six teams compete, and the top two earn promotion to I-League 2 for 2027-28.
Last season showed how tight the play-offs can be. Baghpat FC and FC Raengdai both finished on 10 points, and Baghpat took the title on head-to-head record. Baghpat and Raengdai were promoted, and they replace NEROCA FC and SAT Tirur, who were relegated the other way. So NEROCA return to I-League 3 with something to prove.
I-League 3 2026-27 Teams and Groups
| Group | Teams | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Group A | TRAU FC, NEROCA FC, Southern Sporting Union, KLASA FC | Khuman Lampak Stadium, Imphal |
| Group B | Garhwal Heroes FC, Sher-e-Punjab SC, Corbett FC, Techtro Swades United FC, Ghaziabad City FC | Amenity Football Academy, Rudrapur |
| Group C | Kuppuraj FC, Lakecity FC, Nongkseh SS&CC, Godavari FC, Chhaygaon FC | SSA Stadium, Shillong |
| Group D | Kickstart FC, RT Boys FC, GOG FCC, Zinc Football Academy, Clube de Salgaocar | Duler Stadium, Mapusa |
Teams to Watch in Each Group
Group A is the Manipur derby group. TRAU and KLASA came down from I-League 2 in 2024-25, and TRAU won its Group B last season, finishing top with 10 points. Add NEROCA, relegated again, and Southern Sporting Union, and the group is the most experienced on paper.
Group B has the most clubs from the north. Garhwal Heroes, from Delhi, are a repeat participant, and Corbett play practically at home in Rudrapur. Techtro Swades United come from Una in Himachal Pradesh, and Ghaziabad City from Uttar Pradesh.
Group C includes Lakecity FC of Bhopal and Chhaygaon FC of Assam. Chhaygaon’s forward Midul Doley was joint top scorer last season, so the club can score goals.
Group D is the Goa leg. Clube de Salgaocar, from Vasco, are the best known name, and Kickstart FC (Bengaluru) and Zinc Football Academy (Udaipur) add contrast. Zinc recently reached the final of the AIFF Elite Youth League, which says something about their youth pipeline.
Squads: What We Know So Far
AIFF’s release and the club announcements I found do not include full squad lists for this season. Registrations at this level often trickle out in the first days of the competition, and most clubs build squads around state-league players, youth-academy graduates and a handful of experienced Indian professionals. Check each club’s official social media and the Indian Football League website for confirmed rosters once they are published.
| Club | Base | Note |
|---|---|---|
| TRAU FC | Imphal, Manipur | Relegated from I-League 2 in 2024-25; topped Group B last season |
| KLASA FC | Bishnupur, Manipur | Third straight I-League 3 season; promoted once in 2024-25 |
| NEROCA FC | Imphal, Manipur | Relegated from I-League 2 in 2025-26 |
| Southern Sporting Union | Imphal, Manipur | Played I-League 3 in 2024-25 |
| Garhwal Heroes FC | New Delhi | Third I-League 3 appearance |
| Corbett FC | Rudrapur, Uttarakhand | Played in 2024-25 |
| Techtro Swades United FC | Una, Himachal Pradesh | Debuted 2025-26 |
| Ghaziabad City FC | Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh | Played in 2024-25 |
| Lakecity FC | Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh | Played in 2023-24 and 2024-25 |
| Chhaygaon FC | Chhaygaon, Assam | Won the 2024-25 Assam State Premier League |
| Kickstart FC | Bengaluru, Karnataka | Previously played in 2023-24 |
| Zinc Football Academy | Udaipur, Rajasthan | Played in 2025-26 |
| Clube de Salgaocar | Vasco, Goa | Played in 2025-26 |
| Sher-e-Punjab SC, Kuppuraj FC, Nongkseh SS&CC, Godavari FC, RT Boys FC, GOG FCC | — | Club details to be confirmed on official channels |
I-League 3 2026-27 Venues
| Group | Stadium | City, State | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Khuman Lampak Stadium | Imphal, Manipur | Oct 26 – Oct 30 |
| B | Amenity Football Academy | Rudrapur, Uttarakhand | Oct 22 – Oct 30 |
| C | SSA Stadium | Shillong, Meghalaya | Oct 22 – Oct 30 |
| D | Duler Stadium | Mapusa, Goa | Nov 1 – Nov 9 |
Khuman Lampak is the biggest of the four. It is Imphal’s main stadium, with a capacity of around 38,000, and it hosted last season’s play-offs. Having TRAU, NEROCA, KLASA and Southern Sporting Union in the same group, in the heart of Manipur’s football culture, should make for good crowds. Duler Stadium in Mapusa is a familiar Goan venue, and Shillong’s SSA Stadium is another northeastern ground with a strong football following. Rudrapur’s academy ground is the most modest, but Corbett FC get a home-ground edge.
How to Watch I-League 3 2026-27: Broadcast and Live Streaming
There is no television broadcast. All matches stream live and free on the Indian Football YouTube channel, the same platform used since the competition began in 2023. To follow along:
- Open YouTube on your phone, laptop or smart TV.
- Search “Indian Football” and open the official channel (check for the verified badge).
- Go to the Live tab and pick the day’s match, or subscribe and turn on notifications.
Remember that morning kick-offs start at 09:00 IST, so the early matches are best watched live, and replays usually stay on the channel.
Football fans who also follow the top tier can keep the Indian Super League 2026-27 match schedule handy, since many I-League 3 matchdays fall in the same weeks.
I-League 3 Winners List: Past Champions and Promoted Clubs
| Season | Champions | Runners-up | Clubs | Promoted to I-League 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | Sporting Goa | Dempo | 25 | Sporting Goa, Dempo, Sporting Bengaluru |
| 2024-25 | Diamond Harbour | Chanmari | 25 | Diamond Harbour, Chanmari, SAT, KLASA |
| 2025-26 | Banaras Baghpat (Baghpat FC) | FC Raengdai | 19 | Baghpat FC, FC Raengdai |
Three different champions have won in three seasons, so there is no dynasty yet. Diamond Harbour’s 1-0 final win over Chanmari at Naihati Stadium in 2024-25 started a very good year for them: they went on to top the Stage 1 table of the 2025-26 Indian Football League, as listed by Wikipedia. Last season also produced the competition’s biggest win to date, Baghpat’s 9-0 win over New Friends on May 5, 2026.
Player Spotlight: Names to Know in I-League 3
Last season’s top scorers help show who to watch. Note that clubs’ rosters for 2026-27 may differ, so check each club’s announcements.
| Player | Club (2025-26) | Goals | Why he matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ningombam Engson Singh | Baghpat FC | 6 | Joint-top scorer for the champions. Baghpat now play I-League 2, so he won’t feature in I-League 3 this year. |
| Midul Doley | Chhaygaon FC | 6 | Joint-top scorer and a forward from Assam. Chhaygaon are in Group C, so he is the one to watch in Shillong if he is still with the club. |
| Faslurahman Methukayil | Sunrise Club Orissa | 5 | Third on the scoring chart. Sunrise are not in this year’s field. |
| Moirangthem Diya Singh | TRAU FC | 4 | Scored four for TRAU, who topped their group last season. TRAU are in Group A, which makes him a likely face of the Imphal matches. |
| Aimso Chithung | Baghpat FC | 4 | Part of Baghpat’s title-winning attack, in a side that scored 15 goals in its group alone. |
The main storyline for the new season is simple. Doley and Diya Singh’s clubs are in the 2026-27 field, and the strikers who top the scoring this year will help decide who gets to the play-offs.
Conclusion
I-League 3 2026-27 may not have the glamour of the top flight, but it is where Indian football’s pyramid is rebuilt every year. Nineteen clubs, four venues and 36 group matches from October 22 to November 9 will decide who joins the promotion race.
Fixtures are set, venues are confirmed, and every match is free on YouTube. Bookmark this guide, follow the Indian Football channel, and keep an eye on the scoring charts, because the next Baghpat could be hiding in any of the four groups.
FAQs
It starts on October 22, 2026, with Groups B and C. Group A begins October 26 and Group D November 1.
There are 19 teams in four groups. Group A has four clubs and Groups B, C and D have five each.
On the Indian Football YouTube channel. All matches are streamed live.
Baghpat FC won the 2025-26 title and FC Raengdai finished second. Both were promoted to I-League 2.
Each group winner and the two best runners-up reach the six-team play-off, and the top two there are promoted.
NEROCA FC and SAT Tirur were relegated to I-League 3 for 2026-27, according to the AIFF release on last season’s promotions. NEROCA appear in Group A in the new season’s draw.
