Reliance Foundation Development League

{{Infobox football league

| name = Reliance Foundation Development League

| image = Reliance Foundation Development League.svg

| pixels = 250

| country = India

| organisers = All India Football Federation
Reliance Foundation

| confed =

| founded = {{start date and age|df=y|2022|4|7}}

| levels = Youth

| teams = Various

| domest_cup =

| league_cup =

| confed_cup = Next Gen Cup

| champions = Mohun Bagan SG (1st title)

| most_successful_club = Bengaluru (2 titles){{cite web|url=https://www.indiansuperleague.com/news/bengaluru-fc-crowned-rfdl-champion-after-a-thrilling-title-defence-against-sudeva-delhi-fc|title=Bengaluru FC crowned RFDL Champion after a thrilling title defence against Sudeva Delhi FC|date=14 May 2023|access-date=15 May 2023|website=indiansuperleague.com|publisher=Indian Super League|archive-date=14 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514203832/https://www.indiansuperleague.com/news/bengaluru-fc-crowned-rfdl-champion-after-a-thrilling-title-defence-against-sudeva-delhi-fc}}{{cite web|url=https://english.jagran.com/sports/bengaluru-fc-crowned-rfdl-champion-after-a-thrilling-title-defence-against-sudeva-delhi-fc-10077940|title=Bengaluru FC Crowned RFDL Champion After A Thrilling Title Defence Against Sudeva Delhi FC|first=JE|last=Sports Desk|date=14 May 2023|access-date=15 May 2023|website=english.jagran.com|publisher=Jagaran English|location=New Delhi|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230515050829/https://english.jagran.com/sports/bengaluru-fc-crowned-rfdl-champion-after-a-thrilling-title-defence-against-sudeva-delhi-fc-10077940|archive-date=15 May 2023}}

| tv = AIFF (YouTube)

| website = [https://www.rfyouthsports.com/football/rfdl RFDL]

| current = 2025

}}

The Reliance Foundation Development League (RFDL) is India's Youth Football league organised by the Reliance Foundation in technical support with the AIFF.{{cite web|title=Seven Hero ISL clubs to join RFYC in inaugural Reliance Foundation Development League from April 15|url=https://www.indiansuperleague.com/news/seven-hero-isl-clubs-to-join-rfyc-in-inaugural-reliance-foundation-development-league-from-april-15|date=7 April 2022|access-date=6 May 2022|archive-date=15 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220815170944/https://www.indiansuperleague.com/news/seven-hero-isl-clubs-to-join-rfyc-in-inaugural-reliance-foundation-development-league-from-april-15|url-status=live}} A total of 60+ teams participates in the tournament.{{cite web|title=All you need to know about the RF Development League 2022|url=https://khelnow.com/football/reliance-foundation-rf-development-league-fixtures-schedule-venue-teams|date=8 April 2022|access-date=6 May 2022|archive-date=15 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220415172422/https://khelnow.com/football/reliance-foundation-rf-development-league-fixtures-schedule-venue-teams|url-status=live}} The league was founded to offer opportunities to the young players across the country.{{cite web|title=Seven Hero ISL clubs to join RFYC in inaugural Reliance Foundation Development League from April 15|url=https://www.indiansuperleague.com/news/seven-hero-isl-clubs-to-join-rfyc-in-inaugural-reliance-foundation-development-league-from-april-15|date=7 April 2022|access-date=6 May 2022|archive-date=15 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220815170944/https://www.indiansuperleague.com/news/seven-hero-isl-clubs-to-join-rfyc-in-inaugural-reliance-foundation-development-league-from-april-15|url-status=live}}

Background

In June 2021 it was proposed after a meeting of the AIFF and CEOs of all the ISL clubs that a new developmental competition called Reliance Foundation Development League would be introduced in 2022.{{Cite web|last=Bangde|first=Arjun|date=2021-06-30|title=ISL to propose a new league for reserve and U-21 players|url=https://www.footballcounter.com/2021/isl-to-propose-a-new-league-for-reserve-and-u-21-players/|access-date=2021-12-06|website=Football Counter|language=en-US|archive-date=6 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206160539/https://www.footballcounter.com/2021/isl-to-propose-a-new-league-for-reserve-and-u-21-players/|url-status=live}} This new league would consist of the youth and reserve teams of all the ISL clubs, with aim to develop young players as there has been limited number of competitions and leagues outside the ISL since the pandemic. The teams would predominantly feature U-21 players with few overage players allowed as well.{{Cite web|author=Marcus Mergulhao|date=Jun 30, 2021|title=ISL proposes new league for reserve, U-21 players {{!}} Goa News - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/isl-proposes-new-league-for-reserve-u-21-players/articleshow/83967398.cms|access-date=2021-12-06|website=The Times of India|language=en|archive-date=6 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206184322/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/isl-proposes-new-league-for-reserve-u-21-players/articleshow/83967398.cms|url-status=live}} The inaugural season of the proposed two-month league will be held in Goa inside a bio-secure bubble between January and March, following the same medical and safety procedures for 2021–22 ISL season, but got postponed to April 15.{{Cite web|title=Hygiene officers and four sets of training protocols - What could be the 'new normal' during ISL 2020-21? {{!}} Goal.com|url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/indian-football-isl-2020-21-covid-19-training-protocols/12tggep54ckps1s4ha239ipnaa|access-date=2021-12-06|website=www.goal.com|language=en|archive-date=6 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206160536/https://www.goal.com/en/news/indian-football-isl-2020-21-covid-19-training-protocols/12tggep54ckps1s4ha239ipnaa|url-status=live}}

Player eligibility

should be under-21
should be at least 15 at the time of registration
permission to include five players aged 21-23, no more than three players are allowed in the playing XI
maximum of 24 players
no foreign nationals

Seasons

class="wikitable sortable"
Season ! Zones ! Clubs ! Champions
style="text-align:center"\|2022 \|1 \|8 \|Bengaluru FC B (1)
style="text-align:center"\|2023 \|9 \|59 \|Bengaluru FC B (2)
style="text-align:center"\|2024 \|8 \|57 \|Punjab FC B
style="text-align:center"\|2025 \|9 \|54 \|Mohun Bagan B

class="wikitable sortable"

Season

! Zones

! Clubs

! Champions

style="text-align:center"|2022

|Bengaluru FC B (1)

style="text-align:center"|2023

|59

|Bengaluru FC B (2)

style="text-align:center"|2024

|57

|Punjab FC B

style="text-align:center"|2025

|54

|Mohun Bagan B

Teams

= 2022 season =

A total of eight teams competed in a single round basis.{{cite web|title=Seven Hero ISL clubs to join RFYC in inaugural Reliance Foundation Development League from April 15|url=https://www.indiansuperleague.com/news/seven-hero-isl-clubs-to-join-rfyc-in-inaugural-reliance-foundation-development-league-from-april-15|date=7 April 2022}} A total of 28 matches were played.

class="wikitable sortable"
colspan="2" \|Clubs
Bengaluru FC \|Kerala Blasters FC
Chennaiyin FC \|Mumbai City FC
FC Goa \|Hyderabad FC
Jamshedpur FC \|Reliance Foundation Young Champs

class="wikitable sortable"

colspan="2" |Clubs

|Reliance Foundation Young Champs

= 2023 season =

59 Teams were divided into 9 zones for the regional qualifiers, each containing 4–8 teams.

class="wikitable sortable"
colspan="3" \|Clubs
colspan="3" \|Assam-Meghalaya Zone
Malki SC \|Mawlai SC \|NorthEast United FC
Rangdajied United FC \|Ryntih FC \|Shillong Lajong FC
colspan="3" \|East Zone
Mohun Bagan SG \|East Bengal FC \|Jamshedpur FC
Mohammedan SC \|New Alipore Suruchi Sangha \|Odisha FC
United SC \| colspan="2" \|
colspan="3" \|Goa Zone
Churchill Brothers FC Goa \|Dempo SC \|FC Goa
Salgaocar FC \|SESA FA \|Velsao SCC
colspan="3" \|Kerala Zone
FC Areekode \|Gokulam Kerala FC \|FC Kerala
Kerala Blasters FC \|Kovalam FC \|LIFFA
Muthoot FA \|Parappur FC \|
colspan="3" \|Manipur Zone
Classic FA \|Football 4 Change Academy \|North Eastern Sporting Union
Pehlum Lamhil Lawm \|Poloi FC \|SAI-RC
Social Development Club \|Wangoi FA \|
colspan="3" \|Mizoram Zone
1st Bn MAP Football Academy \|Chanmari FC \|Chanmari West FC
Chawnpui FC \|Ramthar Veng FC \|SYS Football Club
colspan="3" \|Mumbai Zone
India Rush Soccer Club \|Iron Born FC \|Kenkre FC
Mumbai City FC \|PIFA Sports FC \|Reliance Foundation Young Champs
colspan="3" \|North Zone
Garhwal FC \|Rajasthan United FC \|RoundGlass Punjab FC
Sudeva Delhi FC \| colspan="2" \|
colspan="3" \|South Zone
Bengaluru FC \|FC Bengaluru United \|Chennaiyin FC
Kickstart FC \|FC Mangalore \|Mohammden Sporting FC
Roots FC \|Sreenidi Deccan \|

class="wikitable sortable"

colspan="3" |Clubs

colspan="3" |Assam-Meghalaya Zone

Malki SC

|Mawlai SC

colspan="3" |East Zone

|New Alipore Suruchi Sangha

|Odisha FC

United SC

| colspan="2" |

colspan="3" |Goa Zone

Churchill Brothers FC Goa

|Velsao SCC

colspan="3" |Kerala Zone

FC Areekode

|LIFFA

Muthoot FA

|Parappur FC

colspan="3" |Manipur Zone

Classic FA

|Football 4 Change Academy

|North Eastern Sporting Union

Pehlum Lamhil Lawm

|Poloi FC

|SAI-RC

Social Development Club

|Wangoi FA

colspan="3" |Mizoram Zone

1st Bn MAP Football Academy

|Chanmari FC

|Chanmari West FC

Chawnpui FC

|Ramthar Veng FC

|SYS Football Club

colspan="3" |Mumbai Zone

India Rush Soccer Club

|Iron Born FC

|Kenkre FC

Mumbai City FC

|PIFA Sports FC

|Reliance Foundation Young Champs

colspan="3" |North Zone

Garhwal FC

|Rajasthan United FC

|RoundGlass Punjab FC

Sudeva Delhi FC

| colspan="2" |

colspan="3" |South Zone

|FC Mangalore

|Mohammden Sporting FC

Roots FC

|Sreenidi Deccan

= 2024 season =

57 Teams were divided into 8 zones for the regional qualifiers, each containing 5–9 teams.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-13 |title=Reliance Foundation Development League Season 3 to kick off on February 14 |url=https://www.footballcounter.com/2024/reliance-foundation-development-league-season-3-to-kick-off-on-february-14/ |access-date=2024-03-02 |website=Football Counter |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=RFDL 3rd season matches kick off in Mizoram |url=https://www.prameyanews.com/rfdl-3rd-season-matches-kick-off-in-mizoram |access-date=2024-03-02 |website=www.prameyanews.com |language=en}}

class="wikitable sortable"
colspan="3" \|Clubs
colspan="3" \|East Zone
Adamas United SA \|East Bengal FC \|Jamshedpur FC
Kalighat Milan Sangha \|Mohammedan SC \|Mohun Bagan SG
Odisha FC \|United SC \|
colspan="3" \|Goa Zone
Dempo SC \|FC Goa \|FC Mardol
Geno FC \|Pax of Nagoa SC \|SESA FA
Siddheshwar SCC \|Sporting Goa \|
colspan="3" \|Kerala Zone
Gokulam Kerala \|Kerala Blasters \|Kovalam FC
LiFFA \|Muthoot FA \|Parappur FC
SAI Kollam \|Wayanad United FC \|
colspan="3" \|Meghalaya-Assam Zone
4 for all FA \|Little Stars Academy \|Mawlai SC
NorthEast United FC \|Pay for right FA \|Shillong Lajong FC
colspan="3" \|Mizoram Zone
1st Bn MAP Football Academy \|Home Missions FC \|Inkhel FC
Kulikawn FC \|Muthi FC \|
colspan="3" \|Mumbai Zone
Community Football Club India \|Glorious Mothers FC \|India Rush Soccer Club
Iron Born FC \|Kenkre FC \|Millat
Mumbai City \|Oranje \|RFYC
colspan="3" \|North Zone
AIPL FC \|Delhi FC \|Punjab FC
Rajasthan United FC \|Sudeva Delhi FC \|ZINC FA
colspan="3" \|South Zone
Bengaluru FC \|Chennaiyin FC \|Kickstart FC
Rebels FC \|Roots FC \|Snipers FC
Sreenidi Deccan \| colspan="2" \|

class="wikitable sortable"

colspan="3" |Clubs

colspan="3" |East Zone

Adamas United SA

|East Bengal FC

|Jamshedpur FC

Kalighat Milan Sangha

colspan="3" |Goa Zone