All 14 Indian Super League (ISL) clubs have formally confirmed their participation in the delayed 2025-26 season, which is set to begin on February 14. This announcement brings much-needed clarity and ends months of uncertainty surrounding India's top-tier football competition.
The decision to proceed with the season came after a high-level meeting involving the government, the All India Football Federation (AIFF), and representatives from all 14 ISL clubs. Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced the league's resumption on January 6, 2026, effectively putting an end to weeks of speculation. The ISL had been on hold due to the absence of a commercial partner and ongoing legal issues, leading to doubts about whether the season would proceed.
The 14 participating clubs include prominent names such as Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, Mohammaden FC, Kerala Blasters, FC Goa, Mumbai City FC, Chennaiyin FC, SC Delhi, Bengaluru FC, NorthEast United FC, Jamshedpur FC, Odisha FC, and Inter Kashi. Notably, this season will feature Inter Kashi, marking their debut in the ISL. There was also some doubt about Odisha FC, but they have confirmed their participation as well. Additionally, Hyderabad FC has relocated to Delhi and rebranded as SC Delhi.
AIFF had asked clubs to submit a participation fee of ₹1 crore by January 12, while also confirming their proposed home venues. The federation conveyed that these confirmations were essential to begin scheduling work for the new season, which is set to kick off on February 14.
The format for the 2025-26 season will consist of a single-leg home-and-away system, resulting in a total of 91 matches. AIFF is now working on preparing a compressed calendar to accommodate the delayed start. The AIFF had initially left out the ISL from the Indian football competition calendar for the 2025-26 season due to a lack of clarity over the league's continuity. The uncertainty stemmed from the expiry of the Master Rights Agreement (MRA) between the AIFF and Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), the organisers of the ISL. The agreement, signed in 2010, concluded in December 2025.
To ensure the smooth conduct of the leagues, a central pool of Rs 25 crore has been created. The AIFF will contribute ₹9.77 crore upfront, while each participating club will provide ₹1 crore as its share. A Governing Council Board will also be constituted to oversee both the ISL and I-League in the future.
The ISL was founded on October 21, 2013, with the aim of growing football in India and increasing its exposure. The league officially replaced the I-League as the country's premier division in the 2019-20 season. The ISL also provides Indian football clubs with continental qualification spots for AFC competitions.
