The Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 playoffs will be held on March 29 and 30, with the semifinals scheduled for the first week of April.
Starting from the 2022-23 season, six teams advance to the playoffs, with the top two teams directly entering the semifinals. The remaining four teams will play one-legged knockout matches to complete the semifinal lineup, with higher-seeded teams hosting these games.
The semifinals will consist of two-legged ties, with the first legs likely scheduled for April 2 and 3, and the return legs on April 6 and 7.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant, the ISL Shield winner, is the only team to have secured a spot in the final four. FC Goa and Jamshedpur FC are leading the race to join them in the semifinals.
The playoff dates were initially decided for March but were confirmed only after the schedule for the third round of Asian Cup qualifiers was finalized. As a result, the matches will take place four days after India’s opening qualifier against Bangladesh on March 25.
Eight teams are eyeing the playoffs, including Bengaluru FC, which will host Chennaiyin FC at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Tuesday. Led by Sunil Chhetri, Bengaluru FC would secure qualification with a victory against the Marina Machans.
Bengaluru FC’s head coach Gerard Zaragoza stated, “We deserve the six points that we won in the last two matches. Now, we have to achieve our objective, which is to arrive in the playoffs.”
The upcoming matches promise to be a thrilling conclusion to the ISL season as teams battle for their place in the semifinals.
