Mumbai: The Indian Super League (ISL) will begin its 2026-27 season on October 10, marking the start of a new club-led era for India’s top-tier football competition. The season will run through May 2027, with 163 matches scheduled across eight months.
The league will return to its traditional home-and-away format, with the team finishing at the top of the table at the end of the league stage crowned the ISL Shield Winners and official champions. The Shield winners will also secure a place in Asian competition.
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The upcoming season will also see the return of the play-off format, with the top six teams battling for the ISL Cup. This will bring back a separate knockout pathway to determine the Cup champions.
The 2026-27 season marks a significant shift in the league’s structure, with ISL clubs joining hands with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to steer the competition. Under the club-led model, participating teams will have a greater role in determining the league’s direction, with an emphasis on expanding competitive football, increasing investment in Indian players and building a more sustainable football ecosystem.
As things stand, 13 teams are set to participate in the round-robin, home-and-away competition, although Churchill Brothers FC’s participation remains subject to regulatory approvals.
The participating clubs are Bengaluru FC, Chennaiyin FC, Churchill Brothers FC, East Bengal FC, FC Goa, Inter Kashi FC, Kerala Blasters FC, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Mumbai City FC, NorthEast United FC, Odisha FC, Punjab FC and Sporting Club Delhi.
Meanwhile, Diamond Harbour FC, who earned promotion after winning the 2025-26 Indian Football League (IFL) title, will not take up their promoted ISL slot after failing to fulfil the administrative fee requirement for the 2026-27 season.
In line with the league’s promotion-and-relegation principle, Diamond Harbour FC will not be eligible to earn points during the 2026-27 season and will automatically be placed at the bottom of the table. The club will also lose its ISL status for the 2027-28 season and return to the IFL.
