The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has directed Indian Super League (ISL) clubs to promptly confirm the details of the venues they intend to use for their home matches in the upcoming 2025-26 season. This request is part of the federation's effort to finalize preparations for the delayed season, with the league set to commence on February 14.

The AIFF's request for venue confirmations is a crucial step in ensuring the smooth operation of the ISL. By securing this information, the federation can effectively coordinate logistics, including refereeing, broadcast production, and other operational aspects of the matches. In line with previous seasons, clubs will be responsible for organizing their home matches.

The start of the 2025-26 ISL season was initially delayed due to the expiry of the Master Rights Agreement with the former commercial rights holder in December 2024. To address the challenges arising from this delay, the AIFF constituted the AIFF-ISL Coordination Committee on December 20, 2025. This committee was tasked with submitting a report to the AIFF Secretariat by January 2, 2026, which it duly did.

After reviewing the Coordination Committee's report, the AIFF Emergency Committee formally acknowledged it and confirmed that the federation would conduct the league. The AIFF is considering a single-leg home and away format or a centralized venue arrangement for the competition. If all 14 teams participate, each team would play approximately 13 matches. The AIFF has asked clubs to submit their preferred competition format.

Adding another layer to the situation, the AIFF had previously asked ISL clubs to confirm their participation in the delayed season and propose a format by January 1, 2026. This urgency stemmed from the need to inform the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) about the exact number of matches to be played, especially considering that clubs might not meet the AFC's mandatory requirement of 24 matches to be eligible for the AFC Champions League 2. The AIFF has indicated it may seek an exemption from the AFC's 24-match rule for continental qualification, depending on the format chosen by the clubs.

In light of the absence of a commercial partner, financial considerations have been a significant concern. The AIFF may contribute towards operational expenses for the season. There were discussions about allowing clubs to defer the ₹1 crore franchise fee to June 2026. The AIFF is planning to retender a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a commercial partner on January 15, with the goal of securing a new partner by January 31.