‘You enter any arena to win’

Inside NUSC’s ambitious IFL debut

Rebecca Kits Jakhalu
Kohima | September 10

In a historic move for Nagaland football, the Nagaland United Sports Club (NUSC) is set to make its debut in the Indian Football League (IFL), which will start from October 30, 2026.

The announcement came on September 9, as the All India Football Federation (AIFF) cleared the goodwill deal between Aizawl FC and NUSC, and the league’s Governing Council also welcomed Nagaland and Odisha as new venues for the 2026-27 season.

Under the goodwill deal, NUSC will acquire Aizawl FC’s IFL sporting rights and represent Nagaland in the second division of Indian club football. Starting from the 2026-27 season, NUSC will take over Aizawl FC's IFL license and participation rights, while Aizawl FC will provide them with technical and developmental support. Aizawl FC’s decision to step away from the national campaign was attributed to the financial challenges of sustaining a team at that level. However, the Mizoram club will continue to compete in the Mizoram Premier League (MPL).

Speaking to The Morung Express, Abu Metha, Advisor to Chief Minister and Chairman of Investment & Development Authority of Nagaland (IDAN), who is also a board member of the NUSC, shared that the goodwill deal was an opportunity for Nagaland to bypass the grueling, multi-year grind of lower-division promotions. “We are very passionate about football, but it would have taken us a long time to qualify for the premier slot in national-level football,” Metha explained. “If we did not take this opportunity, it would have taken us years, and we do not have the time. This goodwill deal gave us the opportunity to play in national football, so we took it,” he added.

Choosing the home ground
Established in 2024, NUSC has come a long way from finishing third in the inaugural season of the Nagaland Super League (NSL). With ‘Rise Together’ as its motto, NUSC is now set to represent Nagaland at the national stage.

Chümoukedima stadium has been chosen as the official home ground for NUFC's IFL campaign, Metha confirmed.

Although the IG Stadium in Kohima has a larger seating capacity, it was ruled out due to technical limitations, connectivity issues, unpredictable weather conditions, and an AstroTurf that currently doesn't meet the rigorous standards required for national-level matches.

To ensure the Chümoukedima site meets all necessary standards for national-level football, a technical team from the All India Football Federation (AIFF) will be visiting the stadium to assess any infrastructural developments or upgrades needed, Metha added.

Sharing that the club received an unexpected influx of interest, Metha said that the board was happily surprised to have received hundreds of applications for coaching and support staff roles from all over the world, including football heavyweights like Argentina, Spain, and Brazil. Interviews are currently underway, he informed.

Inheriting the IFL experience
Through the goodwill deal, NUSC automatically acquired Aizawl FC’s roster. This gives the new club a massive advantage of inheriting players and technical support staff who already have years of IFL experience. However, Metha emphasized that while they will retain some Aizawl FC players and staff, priority will be given to local Naga players.

On being asked about the AIFF’s three foreign player mandate, Metha also shared that the NUSC board is currently in talks to decide how they will utilize these slots, though no final decisions have been made yet.

Sustaining the dream
As Aizawl FC’s decision to withdraw from the IFL was attributed to financial constraints, questions are also being raised about how NUSC plans to sustain their campaign. To this, Metha said that the board considers this a non-profit, passion-driven exercise and is personally contributing funds to sustain the team. He also shared that the club will apply for the special sports grant of Rs 2cr per annum previously announced by the Chief Minister for any Nagaland team that qualifies for the I-League (Now rebranded as IFL). The club will also rely heavily on private sponsors, supporters, and corporate CSR initiatives, he added.

The debut season mindset
As NUSC prepares for its debut season in the IFL, Metha said that they would be playing to win.”As sportsmen, whenever you enter any arena, you enter to win. If you do not enter to win, you have already lost,” he said. However, the club is also self-aware. Knowing that this is their first season and they willbe going up against powerhouses of Indian football, NUSC will still give their best in every match, Metha said.

While external expectations on the team may not be high, Metha said that the team's internal goal is to give their absolute best in every single match and fight for positive results.

The club's leadership also expressed hope that this campaign will be a source of pride and unity for the state, and called on the Naga people to support the team, while hoping to represent Nagaland positively on the national stage.

Meanwhile, Nagaland Football Association (NFA) president and AIFF executive committee member K. Neibou Sekhose expressed happiness at the development, and said that while this is a historic moment, things are just getting started. He shared the Association’s hope that the NUSC would fight hard to maintain its standing in the IFL, and continue to move forward step by step.

So far, Nagaland has produced some national players and youth internationals, but never had a club participating at the national level. Aizawl FC’s 2016-17 I-League win is likened to Leicester City’s Premier League miracle, and NUSC is set to begin its debut campaign with big shoes to fill. But for now, their focus is on winning one match at a time, and for Nagas, football is coming home.