Delhi FC win I-League 2 title 2025-26, promoted to IFL with FC Bengaluru United
Synopsis
Delhi FC are I-League 2 champions after holding United SC to a 1-1 draw — the same scoreline that simultaneously sent FC Bengaluru United up on goal difference and kept GMSC in the division. United SC, who needed a win, now face a 12th year outside the second tier of Indian football.
Key Takeaways
Delhi FC are crowned I-League 2 2025-26 champions after a 1-1 draw against United SC at Kalyani Stadium on 16 May .
FC Bengaluru United secured the second promotion spot with a 1-1 draw against GMSC in Mumbai , finishing second on goal difference with 15 points .
Himanshu Jangra , the league's top scorer, netted Delhi FC's equaliser in the 66th minute .
GMSC avoided relegation to I-League 3 on head-to-head record after finishing level on 5 points with NEROCA FC .
United SC's wait for a return to the second tier of Indian football extends to 12 years despite finishing on 15 points .
Delhi Football Club were crowned champions of the I-League 2 2025-26 on 16 May, securing promotion to the Indian Football League 2026-27 after a 1-1 draw against United SC at the Kalyani Stadium in Kalyani. Simultaneously, FC Bengaluru United confirmed the second promotion spot with an identical 1-1 draw against GMSC at the Neville D'Souza Ground in Mumbai.
How Delhi FC Clinched the Title
United SC started brightly at their home ground in Kalyani, with Md. Amil Naim, M. Sreenath, M. Arunlal, and Sumay Shome testing the Delhi defence repeatedly. Goalkeeper Lalmuansanga was in fine form, turning away efforts from Amil Naim and Sumay before the break to ensure the teams went in level at 0-0.
Susovan Ghosh broke the deadlock eight minutes after the restart, planting a powerful header from a corner past the Delhi goalkeeper to give United SC the lead. Delhi FC's response was swift and clinical: on 66 minutes, Akash Tirkey slid a through ball into the path of Samson Keishing, who squared unselfishly for the unmarked Himanshu Jangra — the league's top scorer — to tap into an empty net and restore parity.
United SC pushed forward in search of a winner that would have earned them promotion, but Delhi FC held firm. The draw was enough for Delhi to lift the title and return to the second tier of Indian football.
FC Bengaluru United Edge Out United SC on Goal Difference
In Mumbai, FC Bengaluru United took the lead as early as the 4th minute. Lijo K. converted a near-post header from a cross by Shunjanthan Ragui, set up by Lalramdinsanga Ralte's pass down the right flank. GMSC equalised in the 47th minute when a powerful free-kick from Kean Lewis slipped through the goalkeeper's grasp, allowing substitute Shravan Shetty to slot home the rebound.
Both sides pressed for a winner in the closing stages. Late efforts from Dhruv Sharma and Ashley Alban Koli tested GMSC goalkeeper Paramjeetshing Baghel, while Abdul Hannan made several crucial defensive interventions at the other end. The 1-1 scoreline held, confirming FC Bengaluru United's promotion on goal difference over United SC, with both sides finishing on 15 points.
GMSC Survive Relegation on Head-to-Head
GMSC began the final matchday in the relegation zone on four points. The draw moved them to five points, level with NEROCA FC, but a superior head-to-head record was sufficient for the Mumbai club to retain their I-League 2 status and avoid the drop to I-League 3.
United SC's 12-Year Wait Continues
The most poignant subplot of the day belonged to United SC. Despite finishing on 15 points — the same tally as FC Bengaluru United — their inferior goal difference denied them a return to the second tier of Indian football, extending a wait that has now stretched to 12 years. The Kalyani-based side had needed a win to go up; the draw ultimately cost them.
With the I-League 2 2025-26 season concluded, attention now turns to the Indian Football League 2026-27, where Delhi FC and FC Bengaluru United will compete alongside the established clubs of the second division.
Point of View
Secured without a win on the day, underlines how promotion races are often decided long before the final whistle — in the margins accumulated across months of football. For Indian club football, the double promotion of Delhi FC and FC Bengaluru United signals a broadening of the sport's geography, but the structural question of whether the IFL's second division can retain these clubs competitively remains unanswered.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the I-League 2 2025-26 title?
Delhi Football Club won the I-League 2 2025-26 title after a 1-1 draw with United SC at Kalyani Stadium on 16 May. The result confirmed their promotion to the Indian Football League 2026-27 as champions.
Which teams earned promotion from I-League 2 to the IFL?
Delhi FC and FC Bengaluru United both earned promotion to the Indian Football League 2026-27. Delhi FC went up as champions, while FC Bengaluru United secured the second spot on goal difference, both finishing on 15 points.
How did GMSC avoid relegation?
GMSC drew 1-1 with FC Bengaluru United in Mumbai, moving from four points to five — level with NEROCA FC. A superior head-to-head record against NEROCA was enough for GMSC to stay up in I-League 2 and avoid dropping to I-League 3.
Why were United SC not promoted despite finishing on 15 points?
United SC finished on 15 points — the same as FC Bengaluru United — but were edged out on goal difference. They needed a win in the final match against Delhi FC to secure promotion; the 1-1 draw left them in third place, extending their absence from the second tier of Indian football to 12 years.
Who scored for Delhi FC in the title-clinching match?
Himanshu Jangra, the I-League 2's top scorer, equalised for Delhi FC in the 66th minute, tapping home after Samson Keishing squared across the box from Akash Tirkey's through ball. Susovan Ghosh had earlier headed United SC into the lead.
