The upcoming season of the Indian Super League (ISL), originally scheduled to begin on September 4, is likely to be postponed by more than a month and may now commence after October 6, according to a senior official of the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
The postponement is linked to the FIFA international window scheduled from September 21 to October 6. The ISL is expected to get underway only after the international break.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
“The ISL is likely to start only in October after the FIFA window,” a top AIFF official told PTI.
The league will also proceed with 13 teams instead of the planned 14, following the failure of Diamond Harbour FC to pay the second instalment of its participation fee.
Diamond Harbour FC had earned promotion to the ISL after winning the Indian Football League 2025-26. The club was required to pay the remaining Rs 55 lakh towards the total participation fee of Rs 1.1 crore. Although the original deadline for all 14 clubs was August 14, Diamond Harbour were granted an extension until Wednesday but failed to make the payment.
“We are going with 13 teams in the ISL,” the AIFF official said.
Meanwhile, Churchill Brothers secured their place in the upcoming ISL season by paying the full Rs 1.1 crore participation fee on August 14. The Goan club took over the ISL slot after Jamshedpur FC sold its entire stake to Churchill Brothers.
Jamshedpur FC had withdrawn from the ISL and disbanded its first team on July 31, just hours after missing the deadline to pay the first instalment of Rs 55 lakh.
With Diamond Harbour FC unable to complete the required payment, the ISL is now set to enter the new season with 13 teams, with the tournament expected to begin after the FIFA international window ends on October 6.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)
