After weeks of uncertainty and legal confusion, Indian football finally has clarity. The deadlock surrounding the Indian Super League (ISL) has been resolved
following a high-level meeting involving the Sports Ministry, the All India Football Federation (AIFF), and representatives of all 14 ISL clubs in New Delhi.
As a result, the ISL 2025-26 season has been officially confirmed to kick off on February 14.
The upcoming season will be conducted in a single-leg home-and-away format, ensuring that every participating team gets equal competitive exposure despite the delayed start.
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya confirmed the development while addressing the media on Tuesday, stating that all stakeholders had collectively agreed to resume the league after prolonged uncertainty caused by an ongoing court dispute.
"Due to a court dispute, there was a lot of uncertainty about the Indian Super League. But today, the government, AIFF and representatives from all 14 clubs have decided to restart the league," Mandaviya said.
Club representatives from Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, Mohammedan FC, Inter Kashi FC, Mumbai City FC, Chennaiyin FC, SC Delhi, Bengaluru FC, NorthEast United FC, Jamshedpur FC, Odisha FC, Kerala Blasters, FC Goa, and others were present at the meeting, underlining the unanimous support for restarting the competition.
The breakthrough follows last week's announcement from AIFF, which revealed that its Emergency Committee had met on January 3 to review the findings of the AIFF-ISL Coordination Committee. This committee was formed on December 20, 2025, after discussions during the AIFF Executive Committee meeting and the subsequent Annual General Meeting.
The Coordination Committee was asked to submit its report by January 2, a deadline it met successfully. After reviewing the report, the AIFF Emergency Committee formally acknowledged its recommendations and concluded that the league should be conducted directly by the AIFF.
An AIFF statement later reiterated that the federation would oversee the league's operations and announce the start date shortly-an announcement that has now materialised with the February 14 confirmation.
With all teams set to participate and administrative hurdles cleared, the restart of the ISL brings much-needed relief to clubs, players, and fans alike, and marks a crucial step toward stabilising Indian football ahead of a packed international calendar.
