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Reliance Foundation Development League

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Reliance Foundation Development League
Organising bodiesReliance Foundation
All India Football Federation
Founded7 April 2022; 2 years ago (2022-04-07)
CountryIndia
Number of clubs61+
Level on pyramidYouth
International cup(s)Next Gen Cup
Current championsPunjab (1st title)
Most championshipsBengaluru (2 titles)[1][2]
TV partnersReliance Foundation Youth Sports (YouTube)
WebsiteRFDL
Current: 2025

The Reliance Foundation Development League (RFDL) is India's Youth Football league organised by the Reliance Foundation in technical support with the AIFF.[3] A total of 60+ teams participates in the tournament.[4] The league was founded to offer opportunities to the young players across the country.[5]

Background

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In June 2021 it was proposed after a meeting of the AIFF and CEOs of all the ISL clubs that a new developmental competition called Reliance Foundation Development League would be introduced in 2022.[6] This new league would consist of the youth and reserve teams of all the ISL clubs, with aim to develop young players as there has been limited number of competitions and leagues outside the ISL since the pandemic. The teams would predominantly feature U-21 players with few overage players allowed as well.[7] The inaugural season of the proposed two-month league will be held in Goa inside a bio-secure bubble between January and March, following the same medical and safety procedures for 2021–22 ISL season, but got postponed to April 15.[8]

Player eligibility

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  • should be under-21
  • should be at least 15 at the time of registration
  • permission to include five players aged 21-23, no more than three players are allowed in the playing XI
  • maximum of 24 players
  • no foreign nationals

Seasons

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Season Zones Clubs
2022 1 8
2023 9 59
2024 8 57

Teams

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2022 Season  :

A total of eight teams competed in a single round basis.[9] A total of 28 matches were played.

Clubs Venue
Bengaluru FC Nagoa Panchayat Ground,Nagoa
Benaulim Ground,Benaulim
Chennaiyin FC
FC Goa
Jamshedpur FC
Kerala Blasters FC
Mumbai City FC
Hyderabad FC
Reliance Foundation Young Champs (RFYC)

2023 :

59 Teams were divided into 9 zones for the regional qualifiers, each containing 4–8 teams.

State/Region Venue Clubs
Assam-Meghalaya Meghalaya Football Ground, Shillong Malki SC
Mawlai SC
NorthEast United FC
Rangdajied United FC
Ryntih FC
Shillong Lajong FC
East Barrackpore Stadium, Barrackpore
Kalyani Stadium, Kalyani
Naihati Stadium, Naihati
Mohun Bagan SG
East Bengal FC
Jamshedpur FC
Mohammedan SC
New Alipore Suruchi Sangha
Odisha FC
United SC
Goa Monte de Guirim Ground, Guirim
SESA Football Ground, Sirsaim
Dempo Academy Ground, Ella
Churchill Brothers FC Goa
Dempo SC
FC Goa
Salgaocar FC
SESA FA
Velsao SCC
Kerala Maharajas College Stadium, Ernakulam
Panampilly Ground, Kochi
FC Areekode
Gokulam Kerala FC
FC Kerala
Kerala Blasters FC
Kovalam FC
LIFFA
Muthoot FA
Parappur FC
Manipur Loitang Football Arena, Imphal
Artificial Turf Ground, Lamlong Thongkhong
SAI Ground, Takyel
Classic FA
Football 4 Change Academy
North Eastern Sporting Union
Pehlum Lamhil Lawm
Poloi FC
SAI-RC
Social Development Club
Wangoi FA
Mizoram Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Aizawl
AR Lammual, Aizawl
1st Bn MAP Football Academy
Chanmari FC
Chanmari West FC
Chawnpui FC
Ramthar Veng FC
SYS Football Club
Mumbai Neville D'Souza Football Turf, Bandra India Rush Soccer Club
Iron Born FC
Kenkre FC
Mumbai City FC
PIFA Sports FC
Reliance Foundation Young Champs
North 21 Raj Niwas, Civil Lines, Delhi Garhwal FC
Rajasthan United FC
RoundGlass Punjab FC
Sudeva Delhi FC
South Bangalore Football Stadium, Bengaluru Bengaluru FC
FC Bengaluru United
Chennaiyin FC
Kickstart FC
FC Mangalore
Mohammden Sporting FC
Roots FC
Sreenidi Deccan
2024 season 

2024


57 Teams were divided into 8 zones for the regional qualifiers, each containing 5–9 teams.[10][11]

State/Region Venue Clubs
East Adamas United SA
East Bengal FC
Jamshedpur FC
Kalighat Milan Sangha
Mohammedan SC
Mohun Bagan SG
Odisha FC
United SC
Goa Dempo SC
FC Goa
FC Mardol
Geno FC
Pax of Nagoa SC
SESA FA
Siddheshwar SCC
Sporting Goa
Kerala Gokulam Kerala
Kerala Blasters
Kovalam FC
LiFFA
Muthoot FA
Parappur FC
SAI Kollam
Wayanad United FC
Meghalaya-Assam Meghalaya Football Ground, Shillong 4 for all FA
Little Stars Academy
Mawlai SC
NorthEast United FC
Pay for right FA
Shillong Lajong FC
Mizoram 1st Bn. MAP Ground, Aizawl 1st Bn MAP Football Academy
Home Missions FC
Inkhel FC
Kulikawn FC
Muthi FC
Mumbai Community Football Club India
Glorious Mothers FC
India Rush Soccer Club
Iron Born FC
Kenkre FC
Millat
Mumbai City
Oranje
RFYC
North AIPL FC
Delhi FC
Punjab FC
Rajasthan United FC
Sudeva Delhi FC
ZINC FA
South Bengaluru FC
Chennaiyin FC
Kickstart FC
Rebels FC
Roots FC
Snipers FC
Sreenidi Deccan

Champions

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Successful clubs by seasons

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Season Champions Runners-up Third place Teams
2022 Bengaluru (1/2) Kerala Blasters Hyderabad 8
2023 Bengaluru (2/2) Sudeva Delhi Mohun Bagan 59
2024 Punjab East Bengal Muthoot FA 57

Performance by clubs

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Club Titles Runners-up Third place Winning seasons Runners-up seasons Third place seasons
Bengaluru 2 0 0 2022, 2023
Punjab 1 0 0 2024
Kerala Blasters 0 1 0 2022
Sudeva Delhi 0 1 0 2023
East Bengal 0 1 0 2024
Hyderabad 0 0 1 2022
Mohun Bagan 0 0 1 2023
Muthoot FA 0 0 1 2024

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Bengaluru FC crowned RFDL Champion after a thrilling title defence against Sudeva Delhi FC". indiansuperleague.com. Indian Super League. 14 May 2023. Archived from the original on 14 May 2023. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  2. ^ Sports Desk, JE (14 May 2023). "Bengaluru FC Crowned RFDL Champion After A Thrilling Title Defence Against Sudeva Delhi FC". english.jagran.com. New Delhi: Jagaran English. Archived from the original on 15 May 2023. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  3. ^ "Seven Hero ISL clubs to join RFYC in inaugural Reliance Foundation Development League from April 15". 7 April 2022. Archived from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  4. ^ "All you need to know about the RF Development League 2022". 8 April 2022. Archived from the original on 15 April 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  5. ^ "Seven Hero ISL clubs to join RFYC in inaugural Reliance Foundation Development League from April 15". 7 April 2022. Archived from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  6. ^ Bangde, Arjun (30 June 2021). "ISL to propose a new league for reserve and U-21 players". Football Counter. Archived from the original on 6 December 2021. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  7. ^ Marcus Mergulhao (30 June 2021). "ISL proposes new league for reserve, U-21 players | Goa News - Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 6 December 2021. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  8. ^ "Hygiene officers and four sets of training protocols - What could be the 'new normal' during ISL 2020-21? | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Archived from the original on 6 December 2021. Retrieved 6 December 2021.
  9. ^ "Seven Hero ISL clubs to join RFYC in inaugural Reliance Foundation Development League from April 15". 7 April 2022.
  10. ^ "Reliance Foundation Development League Season 3 to kick off on February 14". Football Counter. 13 February 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  11. ^ "RFDL 3rd season matches kick off in Mizoram". www.prameyanews.com. Retrieved 2 March 2024.