ISL 2025-26: The long-standing uncertainty surrounding Indian football's domestic calendar finally came to an end on Tuesday after Union Sports Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya confirmed that the Indian Super League (ISL) 2025-26 season will kick off on February 14.
The I-League will also begin on the same date, ensuring parallel competition across the country's top football tiers.
The announcement followed a crucial stakeholder meeting in New Delhi involving officials from the Sports Ministry, the All India Football Federation (AIFF), and representatives of football clubs. The discussions helped resolve issues that had delayed the league, largely due to ongoing legal proceedings that had cast doubt over the season's commencement.
Addressing the
media, Dr. Mandaviya stated that the deadlock had been cleared after engaging all parties involved. "The ISL was delayed owing to some court cases. However, we have been able to speak to all stakeholders and the issue has been resolved, ISL will be held this year. It is the vision of the Honourable PM that sports in India should not suffer and I am glad that we could resolve this," he said.
Emphasising the importance of continuity in domestic competitions, the Sports Minister added, "The country does well in the sports sector only when our athletes get a chance to play regularly. Only then does the nation gets good players. "
Details of the competition format were outlined by AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey, who confirmed that the ISL will feature 14 teams competing in a single-leg home-and-away format, resulting in a total of 91 matches. The I-League, meanwhile, will include 11 teams and comprise 55 matches during the season.
Significant structural changes were also announced for the lower divisions. I-League Division 1 and Division 2 will be merged, creating a broader pyramid with 40 teams spread across five zones. The Indian Women's League (IWL) Division 1 and 2 will also be conducted during the season, reflecting a push toward inclusivity and wider participation.
From a financial standpoint, the AIFF will allocate Rs 10.3 crore towards conducting the ISL, with 40 percent of the amount directly invested by the federation. In total, AIFF will be spending a total of Rs 24.26 crore for ISL. An additional Rs 3.2 crore has been set aside for the I-League, while the IWL will receive full funding support. The remaining ISL expenses will be covered under the Annual Calendar for Training and Competitions (ACTC) norms provided by the Sports Ministry.
With funding clarity and scheduling confirmed, Indian football now looks set for a stable and competitive 2025-26 season.
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