The Indian Super League (ISL) 2025–26 season, which is India’s most important professional football league, is one of the most exciting and important times in Indian football history.
All 14 teams in the league have now officially said they will play after a long wait because of problems with the system, governance, and business. This includes the well-known Kolkata teams East Bengal and Mohun Bagan Super Giant. February 14, 2026, will be the start of the season. It will be a hard-fought and much-anticipated battle. This confirmation is a big step forward for Indian football. It shows that things are back to normal after a time of instability that put the sport’s schedule, finances, fan engagement, and long-term growth at risk.
The 2025–26 season was pushed back to the second half of 2025 for the first time ever. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) and Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), which owns the ISL’s commercial rights, let their Masters Rights Agreement end. There have been no more attempts to renew or renegotiate, which makes the league’s future uncertain and raises questions about contracts, scheduling, and the clubs’ ability to make money.
The season that should have started months ago was in danger because there was no confirmed business partner. This could have affected how players work, sponsorships, and the whole Indian football ecosystem.
Clubs Confirm Participation, All 14 Are Onboard
After a lot of talking and fighting, all 14 ISL teams have sent letters to the AIFF saying they will play in the 2025–26 season. Some of the well-known teams on this list are Mohun Bagan Super Giant and East Bengal FC. Other big teams include Kerala Blasters, Bengaluru FC, FC Goa, Mumbai City, and more.
A formal written confirmation was very important because the sports minister and federation officials had said before that clubs were “in principle” willing to play, but some were hesitant to make commitments without knowing how the formats, governance, and commercial structures would work.
This official step lets the league move forward and gives fans, the media, and other interested parties hope that Indian football will get back on track at the highest level.
The ISL will now begin on February 14, 2026. The group needed to be reorganized, and the talks took a long time. This late start, which is different from the usual schedule of October to December, is because of this.
Because of calendar limits and deadlines for continental competition, people in the football community are still talking a lot about how to best reorganize the league. Some people have even said that the formats should be shorter or more focused.
West Bengal in the News: A Look at Kolkata’s Football Legacy
Mohun Bagan Super Giant
The Mohun Bagan Super Giant is one of the oldest and most respected clubs in Asia, and they are very excited about this season of the ISL. The Mariners are the current champions of the ISL League. They won the title again in the 2024–25 season. They have also won a lot of awards in their own country, which shows that they have been doing well lately.
Their continued involvement not only excites their dedicated fan base, but it also shows how important Kolkata is to Indian football culture.
East Bengal FC
East Bengal FC, who have been rivals with Mohun Bagan for a long time, have also said they will play in the next ISL. The Red & Gold Brigade hasn’t done well in the league in the last few years, but they are still a cultural force and want to rebuild and compete at the highest level.
The club has been busy making changes and signing new players during the off-season, which shows that they want to do better this year.
How important the Kolkata Derby is
The Kolkata Derby between Mohun Bagan and East Bengal is still one of the most famous rivalries in Asian football, and people from outside of India are also very interested in it. Fans love the emotional connection of the games in West Bengal’s sports culture. Even though Mohun Bagan has won more derbies in the last few ISL games, this is what makes it so exciting.
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This season’s derby is even more important because of issues with the management. It stands for tradition, continuity, and the heart of Indian club football.
The leaders have been focused on making sure the league is financially stable, even though the season started late and the structure of the league changed. They have done this by keeping a close eye on operations and cutting costs so that clubs can’t use methods that don’t last. A new report says that the best way to keep the league going without putting clubs’ money at risk is to cut costs.
This is just one part of a bigger plan to make the ISL more like the National Sports Governance Act, which is a set of rules for good governance. This will help them run their businesses and football teams in a fair way, which will help them do well in the long run.
The fact that ISL will be playing is just one part of a bigger story in Indian football. Other parts are the return of the I-League, the Super Cup, and historic domestic tournaments like the IFA Shield and the Durand Cup. There have been some problems with how things are run, but there are still a lot of competitive football events going on that give players, coaches, and clubs a chance to compete and get better. For example, the 2025–26 AIFF Super Cup has ISL clubs in it, which shows that Indian football is still going strong, even though the league schedule is behind.
As Indian football gets ready to move on from one of its most unstable times, there are a few important storylines that will shape the 2025–26 ISL season:
- Competitive Integrity: With all clubs confirmed, the league can attempt to restore a predictable schedule and meaningful rivalries.
- Kolkata’s Central Role: Mohun Bagan and East Bengal will both play pivotal roles not just in standings, but in mobilizing viewership and cultural engagement.
- Governance and Reform: How AIFF and FSDL resolve long-term commercial arrangements will determine future seasons’ stability.
- Fan Engagement and Commercial Growth: A successful season could reignite investment, sponsorship and viewership momentum
Finally, all 14 ISL teams have signed up for the 2025–26 Indian Super League. This includes Mohun Bagan Super Giant and East Bengal FC from West Bengal. This is a big step forward for football in India. The clubs’ participation letters and the planned start date in February show that everyone is committed to keeping the league going. This is after months of not knowing what would happen, problems with the league’s administration, and real worries about the sport’s schedule.
This season is about a lot more than wins and losses for Kolkata, which has some of the oldest football clubs and the most passionate fans in the country. It’s about who you are and staying the same, even when things change. It’s also about keeping the cultural heart of football beating.
The journey to bring India’s top football league back to life starts now, with the whole country watching and hoping for the best.
