Reliance Foundation Development League 2023 – Fixture of East Bengal FC

The second edition of the Reliance Foundation Development League (RFDL) has kicked-off with over 50 teams competing for national and international honours. Given the success of RFDL last year, the tournament is set to be India’s largest and most inclusive U-21 youth tournament comprising of teams across 9 regions in India from Hero Indian Super League, I-League division I&II and Independent Academies nominated by the State Football Associations.

The top four teams from RFDL will qualify to take on selected Premier League Clubs and South Africa’s PSL youth teams in the annual Premier League Next Generation, in joint collaboration with Reliance Foundation, to be played later this year. The exposure and competitiveness of the Next Generation Cup is aimed at developing the elite youth football talent in India.

The league will be played across three phases – Regional Qualifiers, National Group Stage and National Championship. The regional qualifiers will see over 250 matches being played, out of which the top 20 teams will go to the National Group Stage. The top 4 teams from the group stage will compete for the coveted RFDL National Championship.

The first-ever RFDL saw seven Indian Super League clubs and Reliance Foundation Young Champs compete for the top honours, with the top two teams getting a chance to participate in the Next Generation Cup. Last year, Bengaluru FC and Kerala Blasters FC, participated in the Next Generation Cup.

East Bengal FC will play in East Regional Qualifiers along with ATK Mohun Bagan, Jamshedpur FC, Mohammedan SC, New Alipore Suruchi Sangha, Odisha FC and United SC.

Following is the fixture of East Bengal FC

14th March vs United SC at Barrackpore

17th March vs New Alipur Suruchi Sangha at Naihati

20th March vs Odisha FC at Kalyani

23rd March vs ATK Mohun Bagan at Naihati

26th March vs Jamshedpur FC at Kalyani

29th March vs Mohammedan SC at Barrackpore