Kohima, Aug 25: Nagaland United Sports Club are set to make a historic entry into national-level football after reaching an agreement to acquire Aizawl FC’s Indian Football League (IFL) licence, subject to approval from the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
The development was announced by Advisor for Airways and Railways, A. Pongshi Phom, at an event on Saturday. He said that, if the proposed transfer receives the necessary approval, Nagaland United are expected to play their home matches in Dimapur.
The move could make Nagaland the latest northeastern state to gain representation in the IFL, which serves as the second tier of Indian football. The 2026-27 season is scheduled to begin on October 16.
The proposed deal concerns Aizawl FC’s IFL playing rights and does not involve the dissolution of the Mizoram-based club. Aizawl FC, popularly known as “The People’s Club”, reportedly decided to give up its IFL operations after finding it financially difficult to sustain its participation in the league.
Aizawl FC will continue to operate from Mizoram and participate in the Mizoram Premier League (MPL), local competitions and youth development programmes. The club remains the most successful side in the MPL, having won the competition five times.
The Nagaland Football Association has formally written to the AIFF informing the governing body of the proposed change and seeking the necessary approval.
Founded in 1984, Aizawl FC is one of the most successful clubs from the Northeast. The club won the I-League 2 title in 2015 before achieving its biggest success by winning the I-League in the 2016-17 season under current India head coach Khalid Jamil.
Aizawl’s historic I-League triumph was widely regarded as one of the most remarkable achievements in Indian football, with the club’s rise often compared to Leicester City’s unexpected Premier League title-winning campaign.
However, it remains unclear whether Nagaland United will be able to enter the IFL for the upcoming 2026-27 season. With the league scheduled to begin in October, the proposed transfer is still subject to AIFF approval and other formalities.
An official statement from Nagaland United on the proposed acquisition is awaited.
