League Format
NECL League Format —
The top two clubs from each of the eight North-East states earn a place in the league. Four groups, home-and-away football, and a knockout run to one Grand Final.
Clubs
16
States
8
Clubs / State
Top 2
Groups
4 × 4
Group Stage
Home & Away
Total Matches
45
Stage 1 — Qualification
Two clubs per state. Sixteen in the league.
Each of the eight North-East states sends its two strongest clubs to the NECL — the champion and runner-up of their state qualifier. That is how sixteen sides earn the right to play for the trophy.
×2 Clubs
Assam
×2 Clubs
Arunachal Pradesh
×2 Clubs
Manipur
×2 Clubs
Meghalaya
×2 Clubs
Mizoram
×2 Clubs
Nagaland
×2 Clubs
Sikkim
×2 Clubs
Tripura
Stage 2 — Group Stage
Four groups. Home and away. Top two advance.
Group A
4 Clubs
- 1Seed A1Seeded
- 2Seed A2Seeded
- 3Seed A3Seeded
- 4Seed A4Seeded
Group B
4 Clubs
- 1Seed B1Seeded
- 2Seed B2Seeded
- 3Seed B3Seeded
- 4Seed B4Seeded
Group C
4 Clubs
- 1Seed C1Seeded
- 2Seed C2Seeded
- 3Seed C3Seeded
- 4Seed C4Seeded
Group D
4 Clubs
- 1Seed D1Seeded
- 2Seed D2Seeded
- 3Seed D3Seeded
- 4Seed D4Seeded
Every club plays the other three in its group twice — once at home, once away. Three points for a win, one for a draw. The top two from each group advance to the knockouts.
Stage 3 — Knockouts
Win or go home.
1A vs 2B
1B vs 2A
1C vs 2D
1D vs 2C
Quarter-Final
Quarter-Final
Semi-Final 1
Semi-Final 2
GRAND FINAL
Champion of the North-East
Eight clubs enter the knockouts. Quarter-finals, semi-finals, and one Grand Final decide the first-ever Champion of the North-East.
Match Breakdown
45 matches. One trophy.
Group Stage
38
Four groups × home-and-away
Quarter & Semi-Finals
6
Single-leg knockouts
Grand Final
1
One night. One champion.
Journey to the Trophy
01
State Qualifiers
Top 2 Advance
02
Group Stage
Home & Away
03
Knockouts
QF · SF
04
Grand Final
Champion Crowned