The 2025-26 season of the Indian Super League (ISL) will begin on February 14, following a key decision taken at an emergency meeting of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Tuesday. The announcement brings clarity after months of uncertainty surrounding India’s top-tier men’s football competition.
The upcoming ISL season will feature 91 matches and will be played in a single-leg home-and-away format, with each team playing an equal number of fixtures at home and on the road. The exact breakdown of home and away matches is expected to be finalised through discussions between the federation and the participating clubs.
So far, 10 teams have officially confirmed their participation via email, including traditional heavyweights East Bengal and Mohun Bagan Super Giant. Both the Sports Ministry and the AIFF remain optimistic that all 14 clubs will eventually take part in the league.
Reacting to the decision, East Bengal senior club official Debarata Sarkar expressed relief and optimism. “It’s a happy day for Indian football. East Bengal has been saying from the first day that the league will happen. This country has so many fans who love football, a government which supports sports and a federation. In such a scenario, the league not happening is something we could never digest,” he told Sportstar.
During the meeting held on January 6, the remaining four clubs sought an additional 24 hours to consult internally. However, it is understood that the prolonged absence of top-flight men’s football in the country led the Sports Ministry to push for an immediate resolution.
The confirmation of the league comes at a crucial time for Indian football, with several premier division clubs having suspended first-team operations and many foreign players parting ways to seek opportunities elsewhere.
NorthEast United CEO Mandar Tamhane reiterated his club’s commitment to the competition. “We want football to start, and as a club, we want to reaffirm that we will be playing in the league,” he said. “We are thankful to the government, the federation and also the clubs for having looked at the larger picture, keeping Indian football in mind, and making this thing finally happen.”
The AIFF also confirmed that the 2025-26 I-League will be held in a truncated format featuring 55 matches.
AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey explained the delays leading up to the decision. “There had been uncertainty around the ISL for the last few months, and some factors have to be kept in mind, such as direction from the Supreme Court on the AIFF constitution and the subsequent preparation of the RFQ,” he said, also citing concerns around the Master Rights Agreement.
“But I’m glad we could collectively finalise the dates for the league, and I want to thank all stakeholders for coming to an agreement,” Chaubey added.
