The Indian Super League (ISL) is preparing to reorganize its league next season by including six teams in the playoffs, know the new format and rules
The 2023 season will have six rather than the four clubs that have traditionally qualified for the semifinals since the league’s establishment.
The playoffs for India’s top-tier football tournament, the Indian Super League (ISL), which began in 2014, will be restructured beginning next season. From now on, the playoffs will include six clubs instead of the four that have qualified for the semifinals since the league’s start.
ISL 2022-23 Playoffs New Format, Rules, Teams, How It Will Work
According to the Times of India, under the new format, which was discussed with clubs and approved by the ISL technical committee, the top two teams will automatically qualify for the playoffs, while teams 3 and 6 and 4 and 5 will play a knockout match to determine which teams advance to the final four. The single-leg match will be held at the higher-ranked team’s home stadium. The final four format remains the same with games being played home and away.
Knock-out matches:
Team 3 vs Team 6
Team 4 vs Team 5
Playoffs:
Team 1 Team 2
Winner of Team 3 vs Team 6
Winner of Team 4 vs Team 5
The ISL began in 2014 with eight clubs. The number of teams has been expanded to 11 today. When the ISL began, there were eight clubs, with half of them qualifying for the playoffs. Three additional clubs have been added since then, but the playoff system has stayed the same. With the ISL certain to grow in the future, this new structure will provide participating teams additional options according to a TOI source.
New Format:
The ISL technical committee has now accepted a new system that will see the top two teams automatically qualify for the playoffs, while teams seeded 3/6 and 4/5 will square off in a knockout game to see who makes it to the final four.
The knockout match will be played at the home stadium of the higher-ranked team, but the last four formats will stay the same, with games played at home and away.