I-League 3 2026-27: 19 Clubs Battle for Promotion in High-Stakes Format
AIFF announces the I-League 3 2026-27 schedule. 19 clubs battle across four venues for a chance at promotion to I-League 2.
The road to professional football glory kicks off as the All India Football Federation (AIFF) unveils the roadmap for the I-League 3 2026-27 season. As the fourth tier of the Indian men's football league system, this competition serves as a critical stepping stone for ambitious clubs dreaming of climbing the ladder. This season, 19 clubs will go head-to-head in a grueling quest for promotion to the I-League 2.
The Road to Promotion: How it Works
The competition is designed to filter the best of the best through a rigorous two-stage process. The 19 participating teams have been divided into four groups, competing in a single round-robin format. But winning the group is only the first step.
To secure a spot in the promotion race, teams must navigate the following:
- The Qualifiers: The four group winners and the two best second-placed teams across all groups will advance to the six-team play-offs.
- The Prize: Only the top two teams from the final play-offs will earn promotion to the 2027-28 season of the I-League 2.
The stakes are high, as seen in the previous 2025-26 season, where Baghpat FC (champions) and FC Raengdai (runners-up) successfully made the jump to I-League 2.
Group Breakdowns and Venues
The action will be spread across four distinct regions of India, bringing high-quality football to various local fans.
Group A: The Manipur Clash
Taking place at the Khuman Lampak Stadium in Imphal, Group A features a concentrated battle between:
- TRAU FC
- NEROCA FC
- Southern Sporting Union
- KLASA FC
Group B: The Uttarakhand Face-off
The Amenity Football Academy in Rudrapur will host a five-team scrap for dominance featuring:
- Garhwal Heroes FC
- Sher-e-Punjab SC
- Corbett FC
- Techtro Swades United FC
- Ghaziabad City FC
Group C: The Meghalaya Showdown
The SSA Stadium in Shillong will be the battleground for Group C, comprising:
- Kuppuraj FC
- Lakecity FC
- Nongkseh SS&CC
- Godavari FC
- Chhaygaon FC
Group D: The Goa Gauntlet
The Duler Stadium in Mapusa will host the final group, featuring a mix of talent including:
- Kickstart FC
- RT Boys FC
- GOG FCC
- Zinc Football Academy
- Clube de Salgaocar
Key Dates and How to Watch
The group stages will be a sprint, beginning on October 22 and concluding on November 9, 2026. The rollout of the matches is staggered:
- October 22: Groups B and C kick off their campaigns.
- October 26: Group A action begins.
- November 1: Group D matches commence.
For fans who cannot make it to the stadiums, the AIFF has ensured maximum accessibility. All matches of the I-League 3 2026-27 season will be streamed live on the Indian Football YouTube Channel.
Detailed Group Stage Fixtures
Group A (Imphal)
October 26: TRAU FC vs KLASA FC (09:00 IST) | NEROCA FC vs Southern Sporting Union (15:00 IST)
October 28: KLASA FC vs Southern Sporting Union (09:00 IST) | TRAU FC vs NEROCA FC (15:00 IST)
October 30: NEROCA FC vs KLASA FC (09:00 IST) | Southern Sporting Union vs TRAU FC (15:00 IST)
Group B (Rudrapur)
October 22: Corbett FC vs Techtro Swades United FC (09:00 IST) | Ghaziabad City FC vs Sher-e-Punjab SC (15:00 IST)
October 24: Techtro Swades United FC vs Ghaziabad City FC (09:00 IST) | Garhwal Heroes FC vs Corbett FC (15:00 IST)
October 26: Ghaziabad City FC vs Garhwal Heroes FC (09:00 IST) | Sher-e-Punjab SC vs Techtro Swades United FC (15:00 IST)
October 28: Garhwal Heroes FC vs Sher-e-Punjab SC (09:00 IST) | Corbett FC vs Ghaziabad City FC (15:00 IST)
October 30: Sher-e-Punjab SC vs Corbett FC (09:00 IST) | Techtro Swades United FC vs Garhwal Heroes FC (15:00 IST)
Group C (Shillong)
October 22: Lakecity FC vs Godavari FC (09:00 IST) | Nongkseh SS&CC vs Kuppuraj FC (17:00 IST)
October 24: Kuppuraj FC vs Lakecity FC (09:00 IST) | Chhaygaon FC vs Nongkseh SS&CC (17:00 IST)
October 26: Lakecity FC vs Chhaygaon FC (09:00 IST) | Godavari FC vs Kuppuraj FC (15:00 IST)
October 28: Chhaygaon FC vs Godavari FC (09:00 IST) | Nongkseh SS&CC vs Lakecity FC (17:00 IST)
October 30: Kuppuraj FC vs Chhaygaon FC (09:00 IST) | Godavari FC vs Nongkseh SS&CC (17:00 IST)