The Indian football league system is the
league structure
League or The League may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* Leagues (band), ''Leagues'' (band), an American rock band
* ''The League'', an American sitcom broadcast on FX and FXX about fantasy football
Sports
* Sports league
* Rugby league, full ...
of
football club competitions in
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
. The highest level of
men's club football competition in India is the
Indian Super League
The Indian Super League (ISL) is an Indian professional league for men's association football clubs. At the top of the Indian football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Organised by the All India Football Federat ...
.
Indian Women's League
The Indian Women's League, known as ''Hero Indian Women's League'' for sponsorship ties with Hero MotoCorp is the women's top tier professional football league in Indian football. Founded in 2016, currently a total of 18 teams from across the c ...
, founded in 2016, is the highest level of
women's football club competition in India.
Men's
The Indian men's football league system consists of top 3 national divisions organised by the
All India Football Federation (AIFF) and partners. From tier 4 are the various regional
state football leagues, organised by
state associations under AIFF affiliation.
Pyramid
Evolution
History of the Indian league system's national tiers
Women's
The women's football league system in India currently consists of 1 top tier national league i.e.
Indian Women's League
The Indian Women's League, known as ''Hero Indian Women's League'' for sponsorship ties with Hero MotoCorp is the women's top tier professional football league in Indian football. Founded in 2016, currently a total of 18 teams from across the c ...
, organised by the All India Football Federation (AIFF). From tier 2 are the State football leagues, organised by regional state associations under AIFF affiliation, in the league tier pyramid of women's football in India.
Pyramid
National Football Championships
The National Football Championships are football knock-out competitions contested among the regional state associations and government institutions under the All India Football Federation. Currently there are 6 championship competitions divided as age groups for both men and women. For sponsorship ties it is referred as
Hero
A hero (feminine: heroine) is a real person or a main fictional character who, in the face of danger, combats adversity through feats of ingenuity, courage, or strength. Like other formerly gender-specific terms (like ''actor''), ''her ...
National Football Championships.
Senior NFC (Santosh Trophy)
The Santosh Trophy is a men's football competition contested by the regional state associations and government institutions under the AIFF. Before the starting of the National Football League in 1996, the Santosh Trophy was considered the top domestic championship in India.
Senior Women's NFC
Senior Women's National Football Championship is the
women's football tournament which is contested among the regional state, territory federations and government institutions of India. It began to play in 1991. The league consisted of 30 teams for the 2019–20 season.
Junior NFC & Sub-Junior NFC
The Junior National Football Championship or BC Roy Trophy is for the Junior age groups, which was started in 1962. All affiliated State Units of AIFF are eligible to participate in this championship through the two tiers of the competition which is played across the country.
The Sub Junior National Football Championship or Mir Iqbal Hussain Trophy is a national level inter-state championship for boys under the age of 16, which was started in 1977. All affiliated State Units of AIFF are eligible to participate in this championship through the qualifying round.
Junior Girls' NFC & Sub-Junior Girls' NFC
The U-19 Junior Girls' National Football Championship was first introduced in the year 2001. This championship National Level inter-state championship, which is played every year at one venue chosen by the AIFF Executive Committee. All affiliated State Associations of AIFF are eligible to participate in this Championship, which is played on league-cum-knockout basis.
The U-17 Sub-Junior Girls' National Football Championship
was first introduced in the year 2003, which was held at Ooty, Tamil Nadu. This championship is a national level inter-state championship, which is played every year at one venue chosen by the AIFF Executive Committee. All affiliated State Associations of AIFF are eligible to participate in this Championship, which is played on league-cum-knockout basis.
Notes
See also
*
Sports in India
Sport pertains to any form of competitive physical activity or game that aims to use, maintain, or improve physical ability and skills while providing enjoyment to participants and, in some cases, entertainment to spectators. Sports can, t ...
*
Durand Cup
The Durand Football Tournament, commonly known as Durand Cup, is an annual domestic football competition in India which was first held in 1888 in Shimla. Hosted by the Durand Football Tournament Society (DFTS) and All India Football Federation ...
*
Super Cup
*
IFA Shield
The IFA Shield is an annual football competition organized by the Indian Football Association. The IFA is the governing body of football in the state of West Bengal, came into existence in 1893. Named after the association, the IFA Shield to ...
*
AIFF Futsal Club Championship
References
External links
Official website of AIFF
{{League systems
Football leagues in India
Football league systems in Asia