Association football is one of the four most-popular sports in India, the others being Cricket, Kabaddi and Field hockey. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) recognises the Indian Super League as the national football league of India. The Santosh Trophy is a knock-out competition among Indian states and government institutions.
The National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy, due to ties with FIFA, also known as the FIFA Santosh Trophy, or simply Santosh Trophy, is an semi professional inter-state national football competition contested by the state associations and government institutions under the All India Football Federation (AIFF), the sport's governing body in India. Before the launch of the first national club league, the National Football League in 1996, the Santosh Trophy was considered the top domestic tournament in India. Many players who have represented India internationally have played in the Santosh Trophy. The tournament is held every year with eligible teams who are divided into zones, must play in the qualifying round and can progress into the tournament proper.
Mehrajuddin Wadoo is an Indian professional manager and former footballer. During his playing days, Wadoo played for clubs such as Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, Salgaocar, Pune City, Chennaiyin, and Mumbai City. He also represented the India national team from 2005 to 2011.
Ishfaq Ahmed is an Indian football head coach and former player. He is coaching I-League club Real Kashmir.
Kalyani Stadium is a stadium in Kalyani, West Bengal, India. The stadium holds 20,000 spectators. Currently the stadium is being re-modelled with modern structure and 5-storied gallery with added facilities. It usually hosts matches of I-League and Calcutta Football League.
Malappuram District Sports Complex Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Kerala, India, located about 7 km from Manjeri and 12 km from Malappuram. The stadium has a capacity of 30,000 spectators. Opened in 2013, it is part of the Malappuram District Sports Complex & Football Academy, under the management of Malappuram District Sports Council.
Real Kashmir Football Club is an Indian professional football club based in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. Incorporated in 2016, the club predominantly competes in I-League, the second tier of Indian football league system. Real Kashmir with its reserves side also participates in Jammu & Kashmir Premier Football League regionally.
Raynier Raymond Fernandes is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Indian Super League club Goa.
TRAU Football Club is an Indian professional football club based in Imphal, Manipur. The club competed in the I-League, the second tier of Indian football league system. Nicknamed "The Red Pythons", the club was founded in 1954.
Muhammad Hammad is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a defender for Indian Super League club FC Goa.
Bidyashagar Singh Khangembam is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a striker.
Danish Farooq Bhat is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Indian Super League club Kerala Blasters.
Sreenidi Deccan Football Club is an Indian professional football club based in Hyderabad, Telangana. It was established on 1 January 2015 as a football academy in Hyderabad, and later was launched from Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh in 2021. The club is currently competing in the I-League, the second tier of Indian football league system.
Hira Mondal is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a defender. He has represented West Bengal in the Santosh Trophy.
Jithin Madathil Subran is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Indian Super League club NorthEast United.
The 2021 I-League Qualifiers or Hero I-League Qualifiers 2021 was the 14th season of I-League 2nd Division since its establishment in 2008. The league winner secured place in 2021–22 I-League season.
The 2021–22 I-League was the 15th season of I-League, last as the top tier of Indian football league system, since its establishment in 2007. All the matches were hosted in a bio-secure bubble in West Bengal due to COVID-19 pandemic in India.
The 2022–23 I-League was the 16th season of I-League, first as the second tier of Indian football league system. It was played from 12 November 2022 to 12 March 2023.
Hyder Yousuf is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a right-back for I-League club Real Kashmir FC.
Zahid Yousuf Mir, is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a defender for Downtown Heroes FC in the Durand Cup. Zahid also played for I-league club Real Kashmir FC. He also represented Kerala Blasters FC in the second division league. Zahid also represented Jammu & Kashmir in the 2022-23 Santosh Trophy
