The 2025-26 Indian Super League (ISL) season could reportedly begin on February 5 after discussions between the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and the 14 clubs. According to Sportstar, the AIFF presented a model where the ISL will be ‘owned and operated’ by the body, but will take 10% of the revenue share.
50% of the revenue would be distributed among the clubs, while 30 per cent will be reserved for a potential commercial partner. Under the proposed structure, the ISL’s inaugural season will operate on a budget of ₹70 crore, with each club required to pay a standard annual participation fee of ₹1 crore to the Federation.
The report said the league will also introduce promotion and relegation.
Caetano Fernandes, the president of the Goa Football
Association and a member of the Committee formed to find a league model, told the publication that the meeting went ‘positively’.
“We have proposed our models to the clubs, and we hope to start the league by February 5. The clubs have asked for a day or two for their deliberation, and we are optimistic that the league will begin very soon,” he said.
The ISL season has been in limbo since July, following a deadlock over the renewal of the Master Rights Agreement between AIFF and former organisers Football Sports Development Limited, a situation that eventually required Supreme Court intervention. A subsequent tender for the league’s commercial rights, floated under court-appointed supervision, failed to attract any bids.
Amid ongoing fan protests and reports of Mumbai City FC’s ownership pulling out, the clubs had asked AIFF for urgent clarity on both the immediate and long-term roadmap for India’s top-tier football competition.
In the letter, sent on behalf of the clubs by Mohun Bagan Super Giant CEO Vinay Chopra, the clubs urged AIFF to first outline a clear long-term vision before detailing a short-term plan and inviting structured feedback. They reiterated confidence in their earlier proposal for perpetual operational and commercial ownership of the league, which was rejected by the AIFF General Body earlier this month.
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