The 12th season of the Indian Super League (ISL) began amid high anticipation, with defending champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant hosting Kerala Blasters FC at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata. The opening double-header also saw FC Goa take on ISL debutants Inter Kashi at the PJN Stadium in Fatorda, Goa.
While the spotlight remains firmly on the action on the pitch, several structural changes and operational elements define what promises to be a significant season for Indian football.
Format and Competition Structure
ISL 2025–26 features 14 clubs competing in a single-leg round-robin format across 91 matches. Each team will face every other club once, with the side accumulating the highest number of points at the end of the league stage being crowned champions.
This streamlined format places greater emphasis on consistency, as every match carries weight in a shorter league calendar. With no home-and-away return fixtures, margins for error are thinner, and goal difference could play a decisive role in the title race.
Relegation Introduced
For the first time in ISL history, relegation has been introduced. The bottom-ranked team at the end of the season will drop to the Indian Football League (IFL), while the IFL champions will be promoted to the top division.
The move aligns the ISL with a more traditional league pyramid and brings increased competitive stakes to both ends of the table. Clubs now not only compete for the title and continental qualification but must also guard against the risk of relegation — a shift that is expected to intensify competition across the board.
Continental Qualification
The ISL champions will secure a place in the AFC Champions League Two Preliminary Round next season. This pathway adds further incentive for top-performing teams and strengthens the link between domestic success and continental participation.
With Indian clubs aiming to make a greater impact in Asian competitions, the added pressure of qualification could influence squad rotation strategies and long-term planning throughout the campaign.
Venues Across the Country
The league will be staged across 11 venues in 10 states, reflecting the geographical spread of Indian football. Matches will be hosted at:
- Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan and Kishore Bharati Krirangan (Kolkata)
- Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (New Delhi), home to Sporting Club Delhi and Punjab FC
- Mumbai Football Arena (Mumbai)
- PJN Stadium (Fatorda, Goa)
- Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Kochi)
- Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium (Guwahati)
- Sri Kanteerava Stadium (Bengaluru)
- Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Chennai)
- JRD Tata Sports Complex (Jamshedpur)
- Kalinga Stadium (Bhubaneswar)
The return of matches to several cities after extended gaps is expected to re-energise local fan bases and restore home-ground intensity.
Match Operations and Officiating
Around 35 match officials will be involved in the season, serving as referees and assistant referees across the 91 fixtures. In addition, 15 AIFF elite match commissioners will oversee operational aspects of each game to ensure compliance with league standards and competition protocols. The administrative framework assumes particular importance this year, as the AIFF is operating the league independently for the first time following recent judicial directives.
A New Administrative Chapter
AIFF Deputy Secretary General M. Satyanarayan described the season’s commencement as a moment of celebration.
“After all the noise off the field, we are finally kicking things off on the field, which makes it a moment of celebration. Football is back on the ground, which is what everyone in the fraternity wanted,” he said.
AIFF Leagues Chief Operating Officer Akshay Rohatgi highlighted the compressed timeline in preparing the season.
“We had the handicap of time with only 38 days at our disposal, but thanks to the tremendous support from clubs, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, and respective state governments, we believe we will be able to deliver what fans want,” he said.
Rohatgi also underlined the historic aspects of the campaign, pointing to the introduction of promotion and relegation and the league being run directly by the AIFF.
A Season of Higher Stakes
With a revised structure, the introduction of relegation, continental incentives, and administrative restructuring, ISL 2025–26 carries added significance beyond match results alone.
For clubs, it is a campaign that demands tactical discipline, squad depth, and consistency. For fans, it represents the return of competitive domestic football with heightened stakes at both ends of the table.
As the season unfolds across 91 matches and multiple cities, the focus now shifts fully to performances on the pitch — where titles will be decided, survival battles fought, and Indian football’s evolving structure tested in real time.
Matches this season will be streamed live on FanCode and telecast on Sony Sports 2.
