New Delhi: Jamshedpur FC have decided not to feature in the upcoming 2026-27 season of the Indian Super League (ISL) on Friday, July 31. The club, which
is owned and managed by Tata Steel, did not pay its Rs 55 lakh participation fee for the club-led model. The club got an extension until July 31, but the 2022 ISL Shield winners have decided to close operations rather than pay the fees.
“Jamshedpur Football Club would like to confirm that it will not be participating in ISL from the 2026-27 season onwards. JFSPL (Jamshedpur Football and Sporting Private Limited) remains committed, in other capacities, to the continued growth and development of football in India. We will continue in our endeavour to promote and develop the game of football, including at the grassroots level,” the club said in an official statement.
Club Statement. pic.twitter.com/zYTnMTKo62
— Jamshedpur FC (@JamshedpurFC) July 31, 2026
According to a report from the Times of India (TOI), the decision not to participate in the 2026-27 ISL season was not made overnight. The club had been weighing its options even before the AIFF and the clubs reached an agreement earlier this month over the league’s roadmap. The club and its parent group will honour their commitments to players, coaches and support staff who are on long-term contracts.
Jamshedpur FC was founded in 2017 and made their ISL debut in the 2017-18 season. The club will continue to focus on grassroots development, with the Tata Football Academy in Jamshedpur remaining central to those efforts.
“We will continue to identify and develop young football talent across India to create a strong pathway for young players from grassroots to national and international football,” the club continued in their statement.
Jamshedpur FC won the ISL Winners’ Shield under Owen Coyle in 2021-22. They also reached the semifinal of the ISL Cup and the AIFF Super Cup final in the 2024-25 season under head coach Khalid Jamil.
Inter Kashi pay participation fee
Jamshedpur and Inter Kashi were the two clubs out of the 14 that have not paid the first instalment of Rs 55 lakhs by July 20, but the deadline was extended to July 31. On Friday, Inter Kashi paid a significant part of that amount despite being in a challenging financial position. The club was also handed a transfer ban until the end of 2027 after failing to clear wages owed to players and coaching staff.
