The 2018âÂÂ19 I-League 2nd Division (known as Hero 2018âÂÂ19 I-League 2nd Division for sponsorship reasons), was the 12th season of the I-League 2nd Division, the second division Indian football league, since its establishment in 2008. The league was played from January to April 2019.
TRAU won the title and earned the promotion to 2019âÂÂ20 I-League.
At the start of the season 23 teams were nominated by the state associations for participation in this edition of the league. Following clubs were nominated:
Kerala: SAT Tirur, Quartz, Kerala
Delhi: Hindustan, Sudeva Moonlight, Delhi United
Manipur: TRAU, SSU-Singjamei
Meghalaya: Langsning
Mizoram: Chhinga Veng
Sikkim: United Sikkim
West Bengal: Mohammedan Sporting, Rainbow
Jammu and Kashmir: Lonestar Kashmir, J&K Bank
Karnataka: Ozone, South United
Telangana: Fateh Hyderabad
Odisha: Radha Raman Club
Bihar: Shirsh Bihar United
Gujarat: ARA
Jharkhand: Shivansh Jharkhand FC
Madhya Pradesh: Madan Maharaj
On 7 December 2018, it was announced by the league committee that nine clubs cleared the licensing criteria and are allowed to participate in this season. Additionally TRAU F.C. were granted three days of extension to clear the club licensing, considering the situation in their state league. TRAU cleared the licensing, taking the total teams competing to sixteen. <section begin="map" />
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Each club, excluding the Indian Super League reserve sides, can register three foreign players in their squad. One of the foreign players has to be from an AFC Member Nation.
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Group champions from preliminary round and second placed team from Group C will qualify for this round. The four sides will play each other twice in the home and away format. The team that finishes top of the table in the Final Round will be crowned champions, and earn promotion.
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