The 2022-23 Indian Super League will kick off on October 7 when last season’s runners-up Kerala Blasters host East Bengal FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi. Matches are scheduled between Thursday and Sunday, bringing the ISL in line with the top global football leagues.
All ISL teams have currently participated in Asia’s oldest competition, the Durand Cup where Bengaluru FC was crowned Champion, as they gear up for the upcoming season.
Photo: Bengaluru FC Crowned Durand Cup Champion
The ISL will be followed by the Super Cup in April.
The upcoming season will see fans back in the stadiums after a gap of two seasons. To make it convenient for more fans and families to attend and watch their teams in action, the ISL has created a fixture list with matches taking place on weekends.
This season onwards, league organizers Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) have also introduced a new playoff format for the league, adding two exciting matches to the calendar.
The top two teams at the end of the league stage will automatically qualify for the semi-finals. Teams finishing between 3rd and 6th will feature in a single-leg playoff to determine the other two semi-finalists.
The final position of the Club in the league table (when all Clubs have played all their League Matches) is determined in this order:
Most number of points obtained in all league matches If two or more Clubs are equal on the basis of the above criteria, their place shall be determined as follows:
Most number of points obtained in the league Matches between the clubs concerned
Superior goal difference resulting from league matches between the clubs concerned
Most number of goals scored in the league matches between the clubs concerned
Superior goal difference in all league matches
Most number of goals scored in all the league matches
Highest fair play ranking
Drawing of lots by league
The top two teams at the end of the league stage will automatically qualify for the semi-finals. Teams finishing between 3rd and 6th will feature in a single-leg playoff to determine the other two semi-finalists. Eliminator 1 – to be played by 3rd vs 6th placed team on the League Standings after the last league stage match Eliminator 2 – to be played by 4th vs 5th placed team on the League Standings after the last league stage match Semi-final 1 – 1st leg – to be played by 1st vs winner of Eliminator 2 (played by 4th vs 5th) Semi-final 2 – 1st leg – to be played by 2nd vs winner of Eliminator 1 (played by 3rd vs 6th) Semi-final 1 – 2nd leg Semi-final 2 – 2nd leg
Photo: Indian Super League
Defending champions Hyderabad FC start their campaign on October 9 in front of their home fans against former winners Mumbai City FC at the GMC Balayogi Athletic Stadium Gachibowli.