Thirteen Clubs In, One Unsure: ISL's Fate Lies With Odisha FC, Who Are Yet To Confirm Participation

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) is waiting on a final call from Odisha FC as it races to get the delayed 2025-26 Indian Super League (ISL) season off the ground.

Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced on Tuesday that the ISL will begin on February 14, ending months of uncertainty caused by the absence of a commercial partner.

While 13 of the 14 clubs have confirmed participation, Odisha FC have asked for time until Thursday to decide.

“Thirteen clubs have confirmed participation, while Odisha FC have sought time till tomorrow. The AIFF is hoping they will confirm on Thursday,” a source told PTI. “After that, we will start working on other details like the schedule.”

Odisha FC’s hesitation is not entirely unexpected. The club skipped

both the Durand Cup and Super Cup earlier this year and suspended player and staff contracts in August, raising questions about their readiness for the ISL restart.

If Odisha FC take part, the league will feature 91 matches with each team playing 13 games on a home-and-away basis. If they pull out, the season will shrink to 78 matches, with teams playing 12 games each.

Either way, the timeline is tight. The last ISL final was held on April 12, and the upcoming season must also navigate a FIFA international window from March 23–31, as well as rising temperatures later in the campaign.

AIFF officials stressed that match scheduling, including the balance of home and away games, will be finalised in consultation with clubs. The federation itself will only cover officiating-related costs.

To ease the financial burden, the AIFF has agreed to allow clubs to pay the ₹1 crore participation fee in instalments until June 2026, rather than upfront.

Meanwhile, the AIFF plans to issue a fresh Request for Proposal (RFP) for a commercial partner by January 15, covering both the short-term 2025-26 season and a long-term 20-year cycle starting in 2026-27. The federation hopes to onboard a partner for the upcoming season by January 31.

AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey outlined a temporary financial model, with a ₹25 crore central pool created solely to conduct the ISL. With no commercial partner currently in place, the AIFF will contribute ₹14 crore itself, with the remainder coming from legacy clubs. The government may step in if required.

The ISL has been in limbo since July, after former commercial partner Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) put the league on hold amid uncertainty over the Master Rights Agreement, which expired in December. A subsequent tender failed to attract any bidders.

(with PTI inputs)