[2] The All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced in September 2023 that the group stage matches would begin the following month and would be played in six venues.
[4] The draw for the group stage fixtures was held at the Football House in New Delhi on 26 July 2023.
38 teams entered the competition; Karnataka and Meghalaya, the finalists of the previous edition, received direct entry to the final round.
It was announced that the winners of each group and four best second-placed teams, along with finalists from the previous edition would make the final round.
In the second semifinal, Ngangbam Pacha Singh scored for Manipur from 30 yards, with substitute Necio Fernandes equalising in the injury time with a bicycle kick off Joshua D’Silva.