ISL 2026–27: The New Club-Led Framework Moves from Agreement to Implementation

The Indian Super League (ISL) will commence its 2026–27 season on October 10, 2026, marking the implementation of the new club-led commercial framework announced by the All-India Football Federation (AIFF) and ISL clubs on July 8, 2026. The season will run until May 2027 and will feature 13 clubs competing in a round-robin, home-and-away format.

The competition will feature 163 matches over eight months. The club finishing at the top of the league table will be the Shield Winner and official ISL champion, and will also earn qualification for Asian competition.

The final league composition also highlights the role of regulatory requirements in determining participation. Churchill Brothers FC is set to replace Jamshedpur FC, though this remains subject to the necessary regulatory approvals. At the same time, Diamond Harbour FC, which earned promotion after winning the 2025–26 Indian Football League, failed to fulfil the administrative fee requirement for the 2026–27 season and did not take up its promoted slot. Under the stated promotion-and-relegation framework, the club will not be eligible to earn points in the ISL and will finish at the bottom of the table by default. It will lose its ISL status for 2027–28 and will compete in the IFL.