The 2026-27 season of the Indian Super League (ISL) is set to commence on October 10, marking the return of the country's premier men's football competition to a traditional home-and-away format. The upcoming campaign, which will run until May 2027, features 13 teams competing in a total of 163 matches, according to an official announcement from the league.
This season introduces a new club-led governance model, designed to grant teams greater control over the league's strategic direction and foster a more sustainable ecosystem for Indian football. The structure includes a round-robin league stage, with the top six teams advancing to a playoff round to determine the winner of the ISL Cup, while the table-topper will be crowned the ISL Shield winner and earn a direct qualification spot for the AFC Champions League Elite 2.
Return to Traditional Competition Structure
The 2026-27 season marks a significant shift back to the league's roots, abandoning the single-leg round-robin format utilized in the 2025-26 campaign. By reinstating the home-and-away format, organizers aim to increase the number of matches and provide fans with more consistent engagement throughout the eight-month season. The league's official social media channels confirmed the start date, noting that the competition will feature 163 matches in total.
Under the new club-led model, the participating teams are expected to hold the reins to key decisions, a move intended to drive greater investment in local talent and improve the overall quality of the sport. This governance shift is viewed as a critical step toward stabilizing the league's long-term commercial and operational future, moving away from centralized control toward a more collaborative, club-driven approach.
Participating Teams and Regulatory Hurdles
The 13-team lineup for the 2026-27 season includes established powerhouses and new entrants: Bengaluru FC, Chennaiyin FC, Churchill Brothers FC, East Bengal FC, FC Goa, Inter Kashi FC, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Mumbai City FC, NorthEast United FC, Odisha FC, Punjab FC, and Sporting Club Delhi. While these clubs are confirmed, the participation of Churchill Brothers FC remains subject to final regulatory approvals and clearance from the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
Churchill Brothers secured their spot in the league after completing the acquisition of the sporting license previously held by Jamshedpur FC in August. This transition represents a significant change in the league's composition, as the Goa-based club looks to re-establish its presence in the top flight. The league organizers have emphasized that all participating clubs must adhere to the new administrative and financial criteria established under the updated governance framework.
Diamond Harbour FC Excluded from Top Flight
Despite earning promotion on sporting merit after winning the 2025-26 Indian Football League (IFL) title, Diamond Harbour FC will not participate in the 2026-27 ISL season. The Kolkata-based club failed to meet the mandatory administrative fee requirements necessary to secure their place in the top tier. Consequently, the club will not be eligible to earn points this season and will be placed at the bottom of the table by default.
According to league regulations, Diamond Harbour FC will not retain its ISL status for the 2027-28 campaign and will instead return to compete in the IFL, the second tier of the Indian football pyramid. This development highlights the strict enforcement of administrative and financial compliance standards that the league is now imposing on promoted clubs to ensure long-term sustainability and professionalization across the footballing structure.
Broader Football Ecosystem Developments
The announcement of the ISL schedule coincides with broader developments in Indian football, including the scheduling of the Indian Women’s League (IWL) and IWL 2. The IWL is set to kick off on October 16, with the IWL 2 group stage beginning on October 23. The AIFF has also outlined a long-term strategy to expand the IWL to 12 teams by 2032, reflecting a concerted effort to grow the women's game alongside the men's professional circuit.
the AIFF League Committee has introduced enhanced coaching license requirements for the 2027-28 season, mandating that head coaches in the IWL hold an AFC A License. These regulatory changes, coupled with the new club-led model in the ISL, suggest a period of significant structural reform aimed at elevating the standard of professional football in India. As the season approaches, the focus remains on whether these changes will successfully translate into improved performance and greater stability for the sport.
