Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), the organisers of India's premier football league, the Indian Super League (ISL) on Thursday announced that the playoffs of the ISL 2023-24 season will begin on April 19 while the final will be played on May 4. 

The first two knockout matches will be played on 19th and 20th April where teams from number three to number six in the league table will feature. The winners from those two knockout matches will join the league's top two teams in a two-legged semi-final that will be played on April 23, 24 and 28 and 29. Then eventually the winners of those semi-finals will face each other in the final on May 4 2024. 

Format 

The top two teams will move directly to the semi-finals, while the teams ranked third to sixth will play two knockout matches. The winners of these matches will join the top two teams in the semi-finals. 

Top six teams

After East Bengal's defeat against Punjab FC in the last game Chennaiyin FC have become the latest team to qualify for the playoffs. Mohun Bagan Super Giant and Mumbai City FC are still fighting for the ISL Shield and Mohun Bagan's remaining two games will surely decide that. Interestingly, the Mariners will face the Islanders in the last match of the league as well. The other teams in the top six are Odisha FC, FC Goa and Kerala Blasters FC. 

Playoffs Schedule:

Knockouts - April 19 and April 20
Semi-finals (1st leg) - April 23 and April 24
Semi-finals (2nd leg) - April 28 and April 29
Final - May 4

The venues of these matches will be declared shortly.

ISL Champions and Shield winners 

Odisha FC's star striker and the third highest goal scorer of Indian Super League (ISL) history, Roy Krishna has been sidelined for the remainder of the season due to a grade 3 ACL injury he sustained during the game against Hyderabad FC last week.

The Fijian striker had already scored three goals this season in ISL for the Juggernauts and has been one of the most impressive players in the league's history since he joined in 2019. He joined Odisha FC in 2023 after spending fruitful years with Bengaluru FC, ATK and ATK Mohun Bagan before joining the 2023 Super League winners.

Read Also | ISL transfer news: All completed transfers before ISL 2024-25

"We will miss him on the pitch:" Lobera

Roy was one of the key clogs in Sergio Lobera's plan and without him, they would have a gigantic boot to fill in. However, Lobera feels Roy's absence will not hurt the team that much as the team is focused on the challenges ahead. 

"It's sad news for the team. Roy is not just an incredible player but also a fantastic human being. We’ll miss him on the pitch, but I’m sure he’ll continue to support us off it. He’s one of the best professionals I’ve worked with, and I wish him a speedy recovery," Lpbera stated via an official press release by Odisha FC. 

"It’s not easy when you have just two training sessions, primarily focused on recovery and compensation. But we don’t make excuses. This is football, and we need to adapt. It’s another challenge for us to overcome, and I believe we’re ready," he added.

Odisha FC are currently 3rd in the ISL standings with 15 points from 10 matches after returning to winning ways against an in-form Bengaluru FC with a 4-1 win at home. Next, they will face Mumbai City FC on 5th December at Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneshwar. 

Read Also | I-League broadcast: Sony Sports Network will telecast the matches on TV from second round

Match Details:

Odisha FC vs Mumbai City FC
5th Dec | Thursday | 7.30 PM | Kalinga Stadium
Live on Sports18, JioCinema, Star Sports-3

Indian Super League outfit Hyderbad FC owners are reportedly planning to move their base to Delhi from next season onwards. According to IFTWC reports, Hyderabad FC owners BC Jindal Group are looking for the formulas and regulations to move away from Hyderabad and from next season the club may participate with a brand-new avatar based in Delhi. 

Hyderabad FC in the ISL 

Hyderabad FC was formed in 2019 to replace FC Pune City as it was financially struggling. The Pune-based franchise was disbanded in 2019 and Hyderabad FC was announced to step into the Indian Football map from the 2019-20 season. 

However, the soft rebranding of the entity did not reflect in their performance as they could not perform well in the first two seasons. Hyderabad finished last in their debut ISL season under Phil Brown who was also the last coach of FC Pune City. The current Indian national team head coach Manolo Marquez was appointed as the head coach of Hyderabad but he also could not deliver the expected result. Hyderabad finished 5th in the 2020-21 season and missed the ISL play-offs by a slight difference of points. 

In the 2021-22 season, Hyderabad FC achieved the coveted ISL trophy under Manolo Marquez beating Kerala Blasters on penalties to be the ISL cup winners. 
The woes of financial struggles and disastrous performance of the Hyderabad side since the start of last season continued and it was uncertain for them to participate in this season's ISL. However, BC Jindal Group took over the club in August 2024 and cleared all the financial issues. 

The relocation

The interest in relocation from the new owners of Hyderabad FC may not be as unexpected as it seems. The owners, BC Jindal Group have shown interest in buying a franchise in Indian Football in the past as well.

In June 2023, AIFF asked for bids to launch two new I-League teams. Inter Kashi and Namdhari SC were finalized from all the corporate bids, but the bid submitted by Concatenate Advest for the Delhi franchise could not compete due to finances.  The Concatenate Advest Pvt. Ltd. is owned by BC Jindal Group and they submitted the bid for the Delhi franchise along with TVS Motors. 

As the company and the conglomerate that owns Hyderabad FC are located in New Delhi, the plan to relocate is not as unpredictable as it seems. 
Delhi Dynamos FC, the former ISL franchise that relocated to Odisha and came out as Odisha FC, was the last club to take part in the ISL from the capital of India. However, Punjab FC currently play their home matches in the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi. The officials will have to find a solution for these issues as well. The local talents of Hyderabad might not get the expected care anymore, which might be a bad advertisement for Indian Football.

Sony Sports Network is set to acquire the TV broadcasting rights of the I-League 2024-25 following the extensive feud between the I League clubs association and AIFF. 

SSEN acquired the OTT rights before and they will continue to stream the matches on its official app whereas Sony Sports Network Channels will broadcast the matches on TV. 

The I-League is about to kick-off from today but. the dispute between I-League clubs association and AIFF has delayed the TV broadcasting. Matches scheduled for first round will not be telecasted on TV but football fans can watch the I-League games live on TV on and from 29 November 2024. 

The I-League clubs association headed by Delhi FC owner Ranjit Bajaj announced in a letter to AIFF yesterday that the 12 I-League clubs have decided to boycott the league and they will not play unless the broadcasting issues are resolved. Shrachi Sports' venture SSEN also announced yesterday that fans can watch the matches 'only' on SSEN app which added fuel to the fire. 

However, in an overnight development, AIFF has finalized Sony as the TV broadcasting partner for the I-League 2024-25 and the clubs expect that over 100 of the scheduled 132 matches will be telecasted live on TV. 

Participating clubs will reportedly pay 12 Lakh rupees each to the Sony Sports Network to cover the broadcasting costs which does not include the participation fees of 7 Lakhs paid to the AIFF. 

The uncertainty regarding the broadcasting issues have finally been resolved and the I-League 2024-25 will start according to the announced fixtures. Sreenidi Deccan will take on Gokulam Kerala in a blockbuster opening game set to kick off today at 4:30 PM IST. Later today, Inter Kashi will face newly promoted Sporting Club Bengaluru in the second match of the opening day, scheduled to start today at 7:00 PM IST. 

Indian football fans better sit tight as one of the most prestigious accolades in Indian Football, the I-League 2024-25 is around the corner. Sreenidi Deccan will take on Gokulam Kerala tomorrow in Hyderabad in the opening match of this season.

From Complete fixtures to the participating teams, here is everything you need to know about the 18th season of the I-League.

Teams to participate in the I-League 2024-25

10 teams from the 2023-24 I-League will compete this season along with 2 teams that achieved promotion to the I-League from the I-League 2. 

2023-24 I-League 2 Champions Sporting Bengaluru and Runner-ups Dempo SC are the new inclusions this season.

• Aizawl FC

• Churchill Brothers

• Delhi FC

• Dempo SC

• Gokulamn Kerala

• Inter Kashi

• Namdhari FC

• Rajasthan United

• Real Kashmir

• Shillong Lajong

• Sporting Bengaluru

• Sreenidi Deccan

Teams to watch this season

Gokulam Kerala will be eyeing for their third I-League title after falling 10 points short of the champions Mohammedan SC. Gokulam finished third last season and they have to strong squad to compete under new manager Antonio Rueda Fernandez. Players such as Sergio Llamas, Martín Cháves, VP Suhair, and last season's Golden Boot winner Álex Sánchez will be crucial for Gokulam's journey this season.

Sreenidi Deccan, the runner-up of last season and the 2022-23 season as well, will suit up for the league title and they have retained the almost same squad from last season. Portuguese coach Rui Amorim has been appointed as the new coach and the Hyderabad-based club will leave no stone unturned for their title charge. Players like David Castañeda, William Alves, Brandon Vanlalremdika, and Eli Sabiá can make Sreenidi fans dream of their maiden I-League title.

Inter Kashi debuted in the 2023-24 I-League as a new inductee and finished in the 4th position. However, they have appointed Antonio Lopez Habas as the new gaffer who is arguably the best coach in ISL history. Mario Barco, Joni Kauko, and Nikola Stojanović will strengthen Kashi's squad whereas they have renowned Indian players such as Edmund Lalrindika, Arindam Bhattacharya, and Narayan Das. inter Kashi will be a very interesting team to watch this season. 

Churchill Brothers will again represent Goa after finishing seventh last season along with the Goa counterpart Dempo SC, the club that returned to the I-League after nine long years. Shillong Lajong displayed a good show of football in the Durand Cup 2024 and they hope to continue to do so. 

Previous Winners

Complete Fixtures 

Indian National Football Team head coach Manolo Marquez has called up FC Goa defender Jay Gupta ahead of the friendly against Malaysia on Monday. Defenders Aakash Sngwan and Asish Rai have left the national camp in Hyderabad due to injuries. 

#BlueTigers Update 🚨🇮🇳

Jay Gupta has joined the Indian squad in Hyderabad ahead of tomorrow's friendly against Malaysia. Aakash Sangwan and Asish Rai have been released due to injuries.#IndianFootball ⚽ pic.twitter.com/lRFJpohUCR

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) November 17, 2024

Jay Gupta made his national team debut against Kuwait in a goalless draw on 6 June 2024. The 23-year-old FC Goa defender plays as a left-back and he will replace his club teammate Aakash Sangwan who also plays as a left-back.

Asish Rai felt minor discomforts in the training sessions for his club Mohun Bagan ahead of their game against Hyderabad FC. However, he is knocked out of the national squad as well. 

Read Also | India vs Malaysia Friendly: Here are everything you need to know

Returning to the Indian national team 🇮🇳 after 10 months, @SandeshJhingan opened up about the recovery journey, regret of missing out on playing for the country & much more

Read more 🔗 https://t.co/I7KTWLg8KF

Watch full interview 👉 https://t.co/c6dQWjkL2Q#IndianFootball ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/N5qxkcGQ3Z

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) November 16, 2024

It will be interesting to see how Manolo Marquez is going to combine the defensive line-up against Malaysia. Sandesh Jhingan was called up for the national team after recovering from a long-term injury but Anwar Ali is likely to start against Malaysia. However, Subhashish Bose was dropped from the squad but Manolo still has options such as Chinglensana Singh, Hmingthanmawia Ralte, and Rahul Bheke. 

India squad against Malaysia 

Goalkeepers: Amrinder Singh, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Vishal Kaith

Defenders: Anwar Ali, Chinglensana Singh, Hmingthanmawia Ralte, Mehtab Singh, Rahul Bheke, Roshan Singh Naorem, Sandesh Jhingan, Jay Gupta

Midfielders: Brandon Fernandes, Jeakson Singh, Jithin MS, Lalengmawia Ralte, Liston Colaco, Suresh Singh Wangjam, Vibin Mohanan, Thoiba Singh

Forwards: Edmund Lalrindika, Irfan Yadwad, Farukh Choudhary, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Manvir Singh

Match Details

Match: India vs Malaysia

Date: 18 November 2024

Time: 7:30 IST

Venue: GMC Balayogi Athletic Stadium, Gachibowli, Hyderabad