The 2025–26 Reliance Foundation Development League was the fifth season of the Reliance Foundation Development League, developmental football league organised by the Reliance Foundation.
The season features 54 teams divided into nine regions, held across multiple regions from 15 December 2025. Mohun Bagan SG are the defending champions.
Exposure trip to Japan In July 2026, the top three teams — Bengaluru FC, FC Goa, and Punjab FC were invited to participate in an international exposure tour in Fukuoka, Japan. The initiative aimed to provide India's leading under-21 players with experience against high-level Japanese youth opposition while exposing coaches and players to different tactical and developmental philosophies.
Each Indian club played a series of friendly matches against Japanese sides including Avispa Fukuoka, Sagan Tosu, Giravanz Kitakyushu, and FC Baleine Shimonoseki. In addition to the matches, the three clubs' coaching staff attended a football workshop in Fukuoka where coaching methods, tactical approaches, youth development systems, and competition structures were discussed with their Japanese counterparts.
The tour followed previous international opportunities provided through the RFDL, including participation in the Premier League Next Generation Cup, and formed part of the league's broader objective of increasing international exposure for Indian youth footballers.
Format The whole competition was divided into 4 phases: Regional Qualifiers, Zonal Group Stage, National Group Stage, National Championship Stage.
54 teams were divided into 9 regions for the regional qualifiers, each containing 6 teams. Top 3 teams from each group qualified (except Meghalaya-Assam, ROI-1 and ROI-2, where 2 teams qualified) for Zonal group stage.
The qualified 24 teams were divided into 4 groups of 6 zones, from which top 3 teams from each group qualified for National group stage.
Phase Name Groups Teams I Regional Qualifiers 9 54 II Zonal Group Stage 4 24 III National Group Stage 2 12 IV National Championship Stage 4
Teams Teams are divided into 9 zones for the regional qualifiers, each containing 6 teams.
State/RegionVenueClubs (last)Goa Duler Football Stadium, Mapusa Guirim Football Ground, GuirimChurchill Brothers FC Goa3rd (2024–25)Clube de Salgaocar3rd (2024–25)Dempo SC4th (2024–25)FC Goa5th (2024–25)SESA FA4th (2024–25)Sporting Clube de Goa3rd (2024–25)Kerala TMK Arena, VadakkencherryKerala Blasters FC5th (2024–25)Kerala United FC2nd (2024–25)Kovalam FC3rd (2024)Parappur FC Kerala4th (2024–25)Real Malabar FCDebutSAI Kollam2nd (2024)KolkataKalyani Stadium A, Kalyani Barrackpore Stadium, BarrackporeBengal Future ChampsDebutDiamond Harbour FC2nd (2024–25)East Bengal FC4th (2024–25)Mohun Bagan SG4th (2024–25)United SC4th (2024–25)Victoria SCDebutMeghalaya–MizoramMFA Ground, Shillong, Meghalaya4ForAll FC3rd (2024–25)Greenfield FA2nd (2024–25)Langsning FCDebutNorthEast United FC4th (2024–25)Rangdajied United FC3rd (2024–25)Shillong Lajong FC4th (2024–25)MumbaiReliance Corporate Park, Navi MumbaiCFCI2nd (2024)Iron Born FC3rd (2024)Maharashtra Oranje FC3rd (2024–25)MYJ–GMSC3rd (2024–25)Millat FC3rd (2024–25)RFYC5th (2024–25)NorthFrontier FC Ground, Chhawla, Delhi Sudeva FC Ground, Civil Lines, DelhiDowntown Heroes FCDebutInter Kashi FCDebutPunjab FC4th (2024–25)Rajasthan United FC4th (2024–25)Sporting Club Delhi2nd (2022)Sudeva Delhi FC4th (2024–25)ROI–1SAI Ground, Imphal, ManipurASUFII FADebutChhaygaon FCDebutClassic FA3rd (2024–25)Imphal Youth FCDebutSAI-RC3rd (2024–25)Subansiri United FCDebutROI–2JRD Tata Sports Complex, Jamshedpur, Jharkhand Flatlets Ground, Jamshedpur, JharkhandBidhannagar Municipal SADebutChhattisgarh United FCDebutFootball 4 Change Academy3rd (2024–25)Jamshedpur FC5th (2024–25)Sports OdishaDebutZinc FA2nd (2024)SouthHAL SC Ground, Bengaluru, KarnatakaAlchemy IFADebutBengaluru FC5th (2024–25)Kickstart FC4th (2024–25)Roots FC4th (2024–25)South United FCDebutSreenidi Deccan FC4th (2024–25)
Regional qualifiers Goa Region
Top scorers RankPlayerClubGoals1Royson ColacoSalgaocar4Swavel Cristiano FurtadoDempo3Murphy FernandesDempo3Saish GaunkarSESALikson RebeloSESA
Clean sheets RankPlayerClubClean sheets1Deep SinghDempo52Lionel Daryl RymmeiGoa2Micky DiasSESA
North Region
Top scorers RankPlayerClubGoals1Omang DodumPunjab62SachinSudeva Delhi4Pangambam Naoba MeiteiRajasthan United4Alan SajiSC Delhi3
Clean sheets RankPlayerClubClean sheets1Naveen SainiPunjab32Mohammed Fizaan JabirPunjab2
South Region
Top scorers RankPlayerClubGoals1Md Altab HussainSouth United62Md ArbashBengaluru4Aiborlang KharthangmawSreenidi DeccanMakakmayum DaniyalSouth United5Nirupam Gowda HSouth United3Prajwal V GowdaSouth UnitedRakshit P AnilBengaluruSerto Worneilen KomBengaluru
Clean sheets RankPlayerClubClean sheets1Aheibam Suraj SinghBengaluru52Khulakpam SarojSouth United33Shuhaid Koya ThangalSreenidi Deccan24Arun MSouth United1
Kerala Region
Top scorers RankPlayerClubGoals1Sreekuttan MSKerala Blasters52Mohammed Adhnan KKerala Blasters43Ibrahim ANKerala United3
Clean sheets RankPlayerClubClean sheets1Farhan KBPFC Kerala32Saviyol VargheseReal Malabar2Aadil VSKerala United4Alsabith STKerala Blasters1Mohamed FayizPFC Kerala
Rest Of India 1
Top scorers RankPlayerClubGoals1Wangkheirakpam John SinghASUFII FA62Oinam Romio SinghSAI-RC3Ngararshing RaikhanASUFII
Clean sheets RankPlayerClubClean sheets1Rohit DekaChhayagaon1Shrinivas KeishamClassicKhaidem Amarjit SinghSAI-RCEziioASUFIINur Alam GaziSubansiri United
Rest Of India 2
Top scorers RankPlayerClubGoals1Rayan CJamshedpur102Heerangamba SeramJamshedpur93LawmsangzualaJamshedpur74Henjoimang KhongsaiFootball 4 Change6Lalminlun KhongsaiFootball 4 Change6Rabi MondalBidhannagar4
Clean sheets RankPlayerClubClean sheets1Ritabrata SarkarJamshedpur32Piti BaskeyJamshedpur2AxayZincDeba BaskiBidhannagar
Kolkata Region
Top scorers RankPlayerClubGoals1Suhail Ahmad BhatMohun Bagan SG52Debojit RoyEast Bengal4Vanlalpeka GuiteEast Bengal4Kazi Talal IbtidaDiamond Harbour3
Clean sheets RankPlayerClubClean sheets1Priyansh DubeyMohun Bagan SG42Mohd ArbazDiamond Habour3Julfikar GaziEast Bengal
Mumbai Region
Top scorers RankPlayerClubGoals1Mayur JadhavMillat62Kaustubh Ajitkumar ShindeMaharashtra Oranje4Nirvaan BhattCommunity FC India
Clean sheets RankPlayerClubClean sheets1Abhinand PBRFYC32Aaryan MhatreMaharashtra Oranje2
Meghalaya-Mizoram Region
Top scorers RankPlayerClubGoals1Tanbir DeyNorthEast United7Mocha IromNorthEast United3Emanbha MarbaniangShillong Lajong54Pasborlang KhonglikongRangdajied United3Samuel PhawaLangsningBanlamkupar RynjahShillong LajongKyrmenskhem MukhimLangsning
Clean sheets RankPlayerClubClean sheets1Divyaj ThakkarNorthEast United32Meshan Banjop SumerRangdajied United2
Zonal group stage A total of 24 teams progressed to the Zonal group stage.
Qualified teams No. Club Qualified as1 East Bengal East region champions2 Mohun Bagan East region runners-up3 Diamond Harbour East region 3rd4 Dempo SC Goa region champions5 SESA FA Goa region runners-up6FC Goa Goa region 3rd7 Parappur FC Kerala Kerala region champions8 Real Malabar FC Kerala region runners-up9 Kerala Blasters Kerala region 3rd10 NorthEast United Meghalaya–Assam region champions11 Rangdajied United Meghalaya–Mizoram region runners-up12 RFYC Mumbai region champions13 Maharashtra Oranje Mumbai region runners-up14 CFCI Mumbai region 3rd15 Punjab FC North region champions16 Sudeva Delhi North region runners-up17 Rajasthan United North region 3rd18 Asufii FA Rest Of India 1 region champions 19Classic FA Rest Of India 1 runners-up20 Jamshedpur United SC Rest Of India 2 region champions East region 4th21 Bidhannagar Municipal SA Rest Of India 2 runners-up22 Bengaluru FC South region champions23 South United South region runners-up24Sreenidi Deccan South region 3rd
Group A
Top scorers RankPlayerClubGoals1Makakmayum DaniyalSouth United5Sreekuttan MSKerala Blasters3Dinesh Singh SoubamSreenidi Deccan44Serto Worneilen KomBengaluru3R LawmnasangzualaSreenidi DeccanMd Altab HussainSouth UnitedVivek KSReal MalabarMd ArshadPFC Kerala
Clean sheets RankPlayerClubClean sheets1Shuhaid Koya ThangalSreenidi Deccan32Alsabith STKerala Blasters23Saviyol VargheseReal Malabar1Mohamed FayizPFC Kerala
Group B
Group C
Group D
National group stage A total of twelve teams progressed to the National group stage from zonal stage.
Group A
Group B
National Championship Qualification Club Qualified as Bengaluru FC Group A Champions Punjab FC Group B Champions FC Goa Group A Runners-up Kerala Blasters FC Group B Runners-up Top 3 teams from this stage will qualify for Next Gen Cup.
Bracket All matches to be played at GMC Athletic Stadium, Bambolim, Goa.
Semi-finals 1st legs
Semi-finals 2nd legs
Third-place play-off
Final
Final standing
+ Final standing of 2026 Reliance Foundation Development LeagueRankTeam Bengaluru FC 23 16 4 3 56 17 +39 52 FC Goa 23 11 4 8 31 23 +8 37 Punjab FC 23 17 3 2 60 18 +42 54 4 Kerala Blasters 23 12 3 7 41 35 +6 39 Eliminated in the National group stage 5 Dempo SC 20 11 4 5 36 16 +20 37 6 Sudeva Delhi 20 10 4 6 38 30 +8 34 7 Mohun Bagan 20 9 6 5 35 14 +21 33 8 Sreenidi Deccan 20 9 5 6 43 32 +11 32 9 SESA 20 9 5 6 30 20 +10 32 10 Diamond Harbour 20 8 6 6 30 22 +8 30 11 NorthEast United 20 8 5 7 49 29 +20 29 12 East Bengal 20 9 2 9 36 23 +13 29 Eliminated in the Zonal group stage 13 South United 10 6 1 3 30 21 +9 19 14 RF Young Champs 10 5 4 1 14 5 +9 19 15 PFC Kerala 10 6 1 3 14 13 +1 19 16 10 5 2 3 18 14 +4 17 17 Rangdajied United 10 4 3 3 17 14 +3 15 18 Classic FA 10 4 3 3 10 13 -3 15 19 Rajasthan United 10 3 2 5 17 21 -4 11 20 Real Malabar FC 10 3 2 5 11 19 -8 11 21 Maharashtra Oranje 10 4 2 4 14 9 +5 10 22 Asufii FA 10 3 1 6 17 25 -8 10 23 Community FC India 10 3 1 6 7 24 -17 10 24 United SC 10 2 2 6 9 25 -16 8 Eliminated in the Regional qualifiers 25 Jamshedpur FC 5 4 0 1 38 3 +35 12 26 Langsning SC 5 3 1 1 15 8 +7 10 27 Zinc FA 5 2 2 1 10 5 +5 8 28 Subansiri United FC 5 2 2 1 6 5 +1 8 29 SC Delhi 5 2 1 2 8 6 +2 7 30 Shillong Lajong 5 2 0 3 13 9 +4 6 31 Kerala United 5 2 0 3 11 7 +4 6 32 Salgaocar FC 5 2 0 3 8 9 -1 6 33 SAI RC 5 2 0 3 9 11 -2 6 34 Chhayagaon FC 5 2 0 3 6 9 -3 6 35 Sports Odisha 5 2 0 3 10 16 -6 6 36 Football 4 Change 5 1 2 2 20 18 +2 5 37 MYJ-GSM 5 1 1 3 7 8 -1 4 38 Greenfield FA 5 1 1 3 7 8 -1 4 39 Millat FC 5 1 1 3 7 11 -4 4 40 SAI Kollam 5 1 1 3 4 10 -6 4 41 Downtown Heroes 5 1 1 3 5 13 -8 4 42 Kickstart FC 5 1 1 3 4 18 -14 4 43 Alchemy FA 5 1 0 4 5 11 -6 3 44 SC de Goa 5 1 0 4 5 14 -9 3 45 Iron Born FC 5 1 0 4 5 15 -10 3 46 Victoria SC 5 1 0 4 3 16 -13 3 47 Imphal Youth 5 0 2 3 5 11 -6 2 48 Roots 5 0 1 4 2 15 -13 1 49 Inter Kashi 5 0 1 4 3 17 -14 1 50 IFA Bengal Future Champs 5 0 1 4 2 16 -14 1 51 Kovalam 5 0 0 5 1 14 -13 0 52 Churchill Brothers 5 0 0 5 2 18 -16 0 53 4 For All FA 5 0 0 5 3 38 -35 0 54 Chhatisgarh United 5 0 0 5 4 50 -46 0
See also 2025–26 AIFF Elite Youth League 2025–26 Indian Super League 2025–26 Indian Women's League 2025–26 Indian Football League 2025–26 Indian State Leagues
Notes
References