There is set to be a debutant team in the I-League 2021-22 after Delhi FC, Kenkre, Madan Maharaj and Rajasthan FC qualified for the final round of the ongoing qualifiers.
Out of the 18 teams nominated by their respective state associations, nine were selected to partake in the qualifiers from the preliminary rounds, among whom Bangalore United, Kerala United, ARA FC, Rynith FC and Corbett FC failed to make it to the final round.
A total of 10 teams were selected by the AIl India Football Federation (AIFF) for the I-League Qualifiers 2021 through the state leagues. In case a state had nominated two teams, only one would have been selected, based on meeting AIFF's financial requirements and completion of the club licensing criteria.
Of the 10 teams that were selected, the AIFF later decided to withdraw Hyderya Sports FC, runners up of Jammu & Kashmir Professional League, after finding the bank guarantee submitted by them to be not genuine.
All the matches of the I-League Qualifiers 2021 are played at the Bangalore Football Stadium in Bengaluru.
