The 2025–26 AIFF Elite Youth League, also known as the 2025–26 AIFF U-18 Elite League, is the sixteenth season of the Indian Youth League and marks a return to the under-18 category.
Changes in format
• Number of participating teams increased to 121. • Qualifier and pre-qualification rounds were added • The zonal group stage was divided into 10 groups. • Groups B,E,G, and H had 8 teams each. • Group J had 6 teams. • The rest of the groups had 7 teams each. • The tournament took place in home and away round-robin format. ==Teams==
Teams
A total of 75 teams participated in the zonal group stage. ==Qualifier Round==
Qualifier Round
Qualifier Group AQualifier Group BQualifier Group CQualifier Group DQualifier Group EQualifier Group FQualifier Group GQualifier Group HQualifier Group KQualifier Group LQualifier Group NQualifier Group OQualifier Group QQualifier Group RQualifier Group TQualifier Group UQualifier Group XQualifier Group YQualifier Group Z ==Pre-qualification Round==
Pre-qualification Round
Pre-qualification Group IPre-qualification Group JPre-qualification Group MPre-qualification Group PPre-qualification Group SPre-qualification Group V ==Zonal Group Stage==
Zonal Group Stage
Zonal Group AZonal Group BZonal Group CZonal Group DZonal Group EZonal Group FZonal Group GZonal Group HZonal Group IZonal Group J ==Final Round Playoff==
Final Round Playoff
Playoff Group APlayoff Group B ==Final Round==
Final Round
Qualification Group AGroup BGroup CGroup D ==Knockouts==