Country’s Top Tier League Ushers Historic Club-Led Era; Shield Winners To Be Crowned League’s Best, While Play-Offs Make A Return To Decide Cup Champions
The Indian Super League - in its brand new club-led era - will kick off on October 10 in a season that runs through to May 2027, it was announced on Saturday. The ISL will be played in the traditional home-and-away format, with the team finishing on top of the table at the end of the eague stages being crowned Shield Winners - the official champions of the ISL - and earning a slot to Asian competition in the process.
The new season also marks the return of the play-off format where the top-six clubs will compete to be named the ISL Cup Champions. The season will see a total of 163 matches being played across eight months of competition. In what is a landmark season, the clubs have come together with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to steer the League to a new direction. The club-led model will see the teams hold the reins to decisions and direction, in an attempt to deliver a comprehensive calendar of competitive football, greater investment in Indian talent, and a stronger, more sustainable ecosystem for the sport to grow.
As things stand, thirteen teams will compete in a round-robin, home and away format, with Churchill Brothers’ participation remaining 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. Diamond Harbour FC, who earned promotion to the ISL via their 2025-26 Indian Football League title, failed to fulfil the administrative fee requirement for the 2026-27 season and have not taken up their promoted slot. In keeping with the league's promotion-and-relegation principle, Diamond Harbour will not be eligible to earn any points this season and will by default, be placed at the bottom of the table. They will not retain ISL status for 2027-28 and will compete in the IFL that season.
