About Kolkata Football League

The Kolkata Football League in India was founded in 1898 and is organized by the Indian Football Association (West Bengal). It is the oldest football league in Asia, with a history even longer than that of some European football leagues.

Tournament System

Division Classification: Currently, the league is divided into 7 tiers, including the Premier Division, 1st Division, 2nd Division, 3rd Division, 4th Division, as well as Group A and Group B of the 5th Division. A promotion and relegation system operates between all tiers.

Participating Teams

There are over 160 clubs, mostly from the Kolkata region. With a large number of participating teams, the competition is fierce.

Competition Rules

Timing: The league typically adopts a cross-year format, usually starting at a certain time of the year and ending at a specific time the following year. The specific schedule is arranged based on actual circumstances.
Format: In each tier, a round-robin format is generally used, where each team plays home and away matches against other teams in the same group. League rankings are determined by points. In case of tied points, factors such as goal difference and goals scored may be used to decide the rankings.

Major Awards

League Championship Trophy: The team that wins the Premier Division lifts the league championship trophy, the highest honor in the Kolkata Football League.
Other Awards: In addition to the championship trophy, the league also selects individual awards such as Best Player, Top Scorer, and Best Coach to recognize outstanding players and coaches during the season.

Tournament Influence

Local Influence: The Kolkata Football League enjoys extremely high popularity and influence in India, especially in the Kolkata region and West Bengal. It is a focus of attention for local football fans, an important part of Indian football, and has cultivated a large number of talents for the development of Indian football.
International Influence: As one of the oldest football leagues in Asia, the Kolkata Football League has a certain reputation in the international football community, attracting attention from some foreign media and football figures. It provides a platform for exchanges and cooperation between Indian football and international football.

Famous Clubs

East Bengal Club: Founded in 1920, it is one of the most successful clubs in the Kolkata Football League, having won the league title multiple times. It has high popularity in India and across Asia, with a large fan base.
Mohammedan Sporting Club: Established in 1889, it is one of the oldest football clubs in India. It has won the Kolkata Football League title 14 times and has trained many excellent Indian players.
Mohun Bagan AC: One of India’s oldest football clubs, founded in 1888, it has won the Kolkata Football League title 30 times. In 1911, Mohun Bagan became the first Indian team to lift the IFA Shield, holding an important position in the history of Indian football.