Sporting Clube take on United in I-League 2 opener at home

Panaji: Sporting Clube de Goa’s hopes of returning to the top tier of Indian football will take shape later this month when the Goan side faces United Sports Club at home on March 28.

Sporting have not confirmed their home venue for I-League 2 but are expected to choose the Atal Stadium, Bambolim.

The fixtures for I-League 2, the third tier of Indian men’s football league system, were announced on Tuesday.

The season will commence on March 27, with two matches scheduled on the opening day, and conclude on May 15.

Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC will take on Sudeva Delhi FC at the KASA Stadium in Diphu, while GMSC will face Sporting Club Bengaluru at the Cooperage Stadium in Mumbai on the first day of action.

Nine clubs will participate in I-League 2, which will be played in a home-and-away, single-round-robin format, with each team playing once against all opponents, four at home and four away.

Sporting’s home matches are against United Sports Club (March 28), Sudeva Delhi FC (April 14), GMSC (May 2) and Sporting Club Bengaluru. The remaining four games will be played away.

The champions and runners-up will be promoted to the Indian Football League 2026-27. The ninth-placed club, along with Sports Academy Tirur (who have withdrawn from I-League 2), will be relegated to I-League 3.

The nine participating teams include the two relegated clubs from I-League 2024-25 – Delhi and Sporting Club Bengaluru, two promoted clubs from I-League 3 – GMSC and Karbi Anglong Morning Star FC, four existing clubs from I-League 2– United SC, NEROCA FC, Sporting Clube de Goa and FC Bengaluru United – and Sudeva Delhi FC, who were reinstated to I-League 2 as per the decision of the AIFF executive committee.