The I-League is the men’s second tier of the Indian football league system. Currently contested by 13 clubs, the winners get promoted to the Indian Super League.

The competition was founded in 2007 as the successor to the National Football League, with the first season starting in November 2007. The league was launched as India’s first-ever top-tier professional football league with the aim to increase the player pool for the Indian national team. I-League operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the I-League 2 and at first only promotion system with the Indian Super League, from the 2022–23 season.

Since the inception of the I-League, a total of seven clubs have been crowned champions. Dempo has won the most titles in league history, being crowned champions three times. Churchill Brothers, Mohun Bagan, Bengaluru, and Gokulam Kerala have won the league twice. Salgaocar, Aizawl, Minerva Punjab, Chennai City and Roundglass Punjab have won it once.