All I-League clubs have National License atleast. Otherwise you cannot play in I-League or even the 2nd Division. Different Grades are there A, B and C. Even if Aizawl FC fails top AFC Criteria, they can still compete in AFC Cup based on their present criteria. Anyways no Indian club is going to play in ACL-qualification is tough. In the past , Pune FC, Mohun Bagan has also played in ACL qualifiers.
It is ISL Franchises which do not possess any license- not even national. This is why neither the league (ISL) nor any Franchise is recognised by AFC.
They don't posses Licenses as they are not "clubs" but "franchises". I think all the ISL teams will fail AFC licensing criterias as they won't disclose there real owners, base of operation, financial status etc.
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Even if Aizawl FC fails top AFC Criteria, they can still compete in AFC Cup based on their present criteria. Anyways no Indian club is going to play in ACL-qualification is tough. In the past , Pune FC, Mohun Bagan has also played in ACL qualifiers.
It is ISL Franchises which do not possess any license- not even national. This is why neither the league (ISL) nor any Franchise is recognised by AFC.
This article explains the difference- between National and AFC Criteria. Still National is good enough for AFC Cup.
Australian Franchises are different. They comply with the criteria thats why their league is recognised.
https://www.the-aiff.com/downloaddocumentlibrary.php?id=59
Criteria for clubs I-league and 2nd Division
Btw we ain't gonna get ACL spots for say next 2 years so probably they have enough time to fulfill the criteria