Core Competition Rules

1. Status and schedule

These are the IPF Season 1 Core Competition Rules, version 1.0, published 11 September 2026. The Season 1 opening date is 5 December 2026. The competition is planned to run through 14 February 2027, subject only to operational fixture adjustments.

Matches will be staged in Mumbai or Navi Mumbai. The exact venue or venues are to be confirmed through official IPF channels.

2. Eligibility

Season 1 is for players aged 18–21 on 5 December 2026. Eligible dates of birth are 6 December 2004 through 5 December 2008, inclusive.

Applicants must provide accurate information. Shortlisted players may be asked to present age and identity evidence through a secure offline verification process. Do not upload identity documents through the website form.

Applying, receiving a reference or attending assessment does not guarantee verification, selection, auction entry or a team place.

3. Application and fee

Individual application is free: ₹0. IPF does not charge for selection and no website payment is required.

The first application window closes at 11:59 PM IST on 11 October 2026. IPF may close an assessment group earlier if safe operating capacity is reached, while keeping the wider Player Network route open.

4. Assessment, selection and auction

Selection is based on IPF’s football assessment process and is not a paid-entry team place. Assessment criteria may include technical ability, game understanding, physical readiness, positional requirements, conduct and attendance.

IPF plans to select 200 players for 10 teams of 20, with a reserve pool of up to 30. Reserve status does not guarantee placement.

Selected players enter the IPF player auction. The auction determines team allocation; it does not transfer ownership of a player or create employment.

5. Competition format

The 10 teams play a single round-robin league. Each team plays nine league matches, producing 45 league matches.

A win earns three points, a draw one point and a loss zero points. League positions are decided by points, then goal difference, goals scored, head-to-head result, fair-play record and, if still equal, a draw conducted by IPF.

The top four qualify for the semifinals: first versus fourth and second versus third. The semifinal winners contest the final. The full season contains 48 matches across a planned 11-week calendar.

6. Match rules

Matches are 11-a-side and scheduled for 90 minutes: two halves of 45 minutes plus time added by the referee. Each team may name up to nine substitutes and use up to five in no more than three substitution windows, excluding halftime.

A level semifinal proceeds directly to penalties. A level final may use two 15-minute periods of extra time followed by penalties if required. The referee’s decisions on facts connected with play are final.

League scheduling is Saturday and Sunday, with no team scheduled more than once in the same league weekend except where a postponed or exceptional fixture requires a formally notified change.

7. Player conduct and discipline

Players, coaches and team officials must respect opponents, match officials, staff, venues and IPF safeguarding standards. Discrimination, violence, manipulation of matches, betting on IPF matches, deliberate misinformation or serious misconduct may lead to removal.

A red card carries an automatic one-match suspension pending review. Three cautions accumulated during the league carry a one-match suspension. Existing suspensions continue into the knockout stage.

8. Player provisions

The guaranteed Season 1 prize pool is ₹10 lakh. Final prize distribution and applicable tax treatment will be published before the league draw.

Selected players must sign the participation agreement, follow team reporting requirements and disclose any condition that may make participation unsafe. IPF may require a basic fitness or medical clearance.

9. Integrity, safety and changes

Players remain responsible for personal belongings and for using suitable football equipment. IPF will arrange matchday first-response support; participation in football still carries an inherent risk of injury.

IPF may postpone, relocate or reschedule a fixture for weather, venue, safety, broadcast or force-majeure reasons. Core competition changes will be published on this website. Operational instructions may clarify these rules without changing their essential meaning.

IPF Season 1 is an India Play Football property. A team or commercial partner receives only the rights defined in its agreement and does not own the IPF property or player registrations.