2025–26 Indian Super League
| Season | 2025–26 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 14 February – 17 May 2026 |
| Country | India |
| Teams | 14 |
| AFC Champions League 2 | TBA Goa (as Super Cup winners) |
| Matches | 7 |
| Goals | 13 (1.86 per match) |
| Biggest home win | East Bengal 3–0 NorthEast United (16 February 2026) |
| Highest scoring | East Bengal 3–0 NorthEast United (16 February 2026) |
| Longest unbeaten run | 2 matches Goa |
| Longest winless run | 2 matches Mohammedan |
| Highest attendance | 29,110 Mohun Bagan 2–0 Kerala Blasters (14 February 2026) |
| Lowest attendance | 1,577 Goa 1–1 Inter Kashi (6 March 2025) |
| Total attendance | 69,467 |
| Average attendance | 11,577 |
← 2024–25 2026–27 →
All statistics correct as of 20 February 2026. | |
The 2025–26 Indian Super League is the 12th season of the Indian Super League (ISL) and the 30th season of top-tier Indian football. It commenced on 14th February and ends on 17th May 2026 with 91 matches to be played in this period. The Indian Super League (ISL) 2025–26 season will be broadcast on the Sony Sports Network after FanCode sublicensed the linear TV rights to the media conglomerate.[1]
The season will run from February to May and will include a 13-round league stage. At the end of the league stage, the club finishing top will be declared champion and awarded the ISL trophy. The ISL winner will qualify directly for the subsequent season's AFC Champions League Two qualifying stage.[2]
Background
- In June 2025, the FSDL formally informed the ISL clubs and the AIFF that the 2025–26 season was on hold due to unresolved contractual issues, ahead of the expiry of the Master Rights Agreement in December.[3][4] After the intervention of the Supreme Court of India, which requested both parties to resolve the issues between them and start the 2025–26 season as quickly as they could, both parties promised that the new season would start in December.[5][6]
- The season was delayed even further after no bids came in for a tender for commercial partners floated by the AIFF on 16 October 2025.[7]
- On 6 January 2026, after discussions with the stake holders, sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya confirmed that ISL would begin on 14 February, and would be played in a single leg home-and-away format for a total of 91 matches.[8]
- On 12 January 2026, all 14 clubs confirmed their participation in this season. The AIFF outlined a total proposed budget of ₹24.26 crore for the season, a significant reduction from the previous seasons. The federation will contribute ₹9.77 crore upfront, while each participating club will provide ₹1 crore. The remaining expenses will be managed through allocated federation resources as the league progresses.[9]
- The Asian Football Confederation granted India a one-season exemption from the mandatory 24-match league requirement. With this relaxation, the ISL champions and Super Cup winners will be eligible to participate in the 2026–27 AFC Champions League Two qualifiers next season.[10]
- Following a media rights tender by the AIFF in January 2026, OTT sports streaming platform FanCode were announced as winners of the broadcasting rights and will be the official streaming partner of the 2025–26 season, while KPS Studios won the bid for production rights.[11] The Indian Super League (ISL) 2025–26 season will be broadcast on the Sony Sports Network after FanCode sublicensed the linear TV rights to the media conglomerate.[12]
- The AIFF will implement relegation this season onwards despite objections from all 14 clubs citing a shortened season. There will also be no playoff stage as a result of the shortened season.[13][14]
Teams
Fourteen (14) teams from 12 cities are competing in the 12th season of Indian Super League – thirteen from the previous season and one promoted from the I-League. Churchill Brothers were initially declared the provisional champions of the I-League by AIFF, but the decision was later overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport who declared Inter Kashi as champions.[15]
On 7 October 2025, Hyderabad FC announced its relocation to Delhi and rebranded to SC Delhi.[16]
- Promoted from I-League
- Rebranded clubs
- Hyderabad FC shifted its base to Delhi and rebranded as Sporting Club Delhi.[17][18]
Stadiums and locations
Kolkata
Locations of Indian Super League teams
| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bengaluru | Bengaluru | Sree Kanteerava Stadium | 25,810 |
| Chennaiyin | Chennai | Marina Arena | 40,000 |
| Delhi | New Delhi | Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium | 60,254 |
| East Bengal | Kolkata | Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan | 68,000 |
| Goa | Margao | Fatorda Stadium | 19,000 |
| Inter Kashi[a] | Varanasi | TBC | - |
| Jamshedpur | Jamshedpur | JRD Tata Sports Complex | 24,424 |
| Kerala Blasters | Kochi | JLN Kaloor Intl. Stadium | 40,000 |
| Mohammedan | Kolkata | Kishore Bharati Krirangan | 24,424 |
| Mohun Bagan | Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan | 68,000 | |
| Mumbai City | Mumbai | Mumbai Football Arena | 7,000 |
| NorthEast United | Guwahati | IG Athletic Stadium | 21,600 |
| Odisha | Bhubaneswar | Kalinga Stadium | 15,000 |
| Punjab[b] | Mohali | Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium | 60,254 |
- ^ The club is based in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, but will play its home games in Bhubaneswar due to ongoing construction on their own stadium getting built in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.[19]
- ^ The club is based in Mohali, Punjab, but will continue to play its home games in New Delhi until the 2025–26 season.[20]
Personnel and kits
| Team | Head coach | Captain (s) | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bengaluru |  Renedy Singh
|
Sunil Chhetri
|
Puma | JSW |
| Chennaiyin | Clifford Miranda
|
 Alberto Noguera
|
Six5Six | ISGL.in |
| Delhi |  Tomasz Tchórz
|
Lamgoulen Hangshing
|
Six5Six | |
| East Bengal | Oscar Bruzon
|
Saúl Crespo
|
Trak Only | |
| Goa | Manolo Márquez
|
Sandesh Jhingan
|
Six5Six | ISGL.in |
| Inter Kashi | Antonio López Habas
|
Sergio Llamas
|
Hummel | RDB Group |
| Jamshedpur |  Owen Coyle
|
 Stephen Eze
|
Nivia | Tata Steel |
| Kerala Blasters | David Català
|
Danish Farooq Bikash Yumnam
|
Six5Six | White Gold |
| Mohun Bagan SG | Sergio Lobera
|
Subhasish Bose
|
Skechers | CESC |
| Mohammedan | Mehrajuddin Wadoo
|
Gaurav Bora
|
Rocky Sports | |
| Mumbai City |  Petr Kratky
|
Lallianzuala Chhangte
|
Puma | Etihad Airways |
| NorthEast United | Juan Pedro Benali
|
Michel Zabaco
|
Reebok | Meghalaya Tourism |
| Odisha | TG Purushothaman
|
Carlos Delgado
|
Trak Only | Odisha Tourism |
| Punjab |  Panagiotis Dilberis
|
Nikhil Prabhu
|
Shiv Naresh | Roundglass Living |
Managerial changes
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Ref. | Incoming manager | Date of appointment | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kerala Blasters | TG Purushothaman
|
End of interim period | 25 March 2025 | [21] | David Català
|
25 March 2025 | [22] |
| Delhi (formerly Hyderabad FC) | Shameel Chembakath
|
31 May 2025 | [23] | Tomasz Tchórz
|
19 October 2025 | [24] | |
| Chennaiyin |  Owen Coyle
|
Mutual consent | 17 July 2025 | [25] | Clifford Miranda
|
12 September 2025 | [26] |
| Jamshedpur | Khalid Jamil
|
Signed by India | 13 August 2025 | [27] | Owen Coyle
|
24 January 2026 | [28] |
| Mohun Bagan | José Francisco Molina
|
Sacked | 26 November 2025 | [29] | Sergio Lobera
|
26 November 2025 | [30] |
| Bengaluru | Gerard Zaragoza
|
Mutual consent | 14 November 2025 | [31] | Renedy Singh
|
14 November 2025 | [32] |
| Odisha | Sergio Lobera
|
26 November 2025 | [30] | TG Purushothaman
|
5 February 2026 | [33] |
Foreign players
The AIFF allows teams to register a maximum of six foreign players. A maximum of four can be fielded in a match at a time.[34]
Due to the uncertainty surrounding Indian football, a number of foreign players exited their clubs before the start of the shortened season.[35][36]
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League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Goa (S) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | +2 | 4 | Qualified for the Champions League Two preliminary stage[a] |
| 2 | East Bengal | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | +3 | 3 | Qualification for the Champions League Two preliminary stage[b] |
| 3 | Mohun Bagan[c] | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 3 | |
| 4 | Bengaluru | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 3 | |
| 5 | Mumbai City | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 3 | |
| 6 | Jamshedpur | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 3 | |
| 7 | Inter Kashi | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 8 | Odisha | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 9 | Punjab | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 10 | Chennaiyin | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −1 | 0 | |
| 11 | Delhi | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | −2 | 0 | |
| 12 | Kerala Blasters | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | −2 | 0 | |
| 13 | NorthEast United | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | −3 | 0 | |
| 14 | Mohammedan | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | −3 | 0 | Relegation to IFL |
Updated to match(es) played on 20 February 2026. Source: Indian Super League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) head-to-head points; 5) head-to-head goal difference; 6) head-to-head goals scored; 7) fair play ranking; 8) drawing of lots
(Note: Head-to-head record is used only after all the matches between the teams in question have been played).
(S) Super Cup winners [37]
Notes:
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored; 4) head-to-head points; 5) head-to-head goal difference; 6) head-to-head goals scored; 7) fair play ranking; 8) drawing of lots
(Note: Head-to-head record is used only after all the matches between the teams in question have been played).
(S) Super Cup winners [37]
Notes:
- ^ FC Goa qualified for the AFC Champions League Two preliminary stage by winning the 2025–26 Super Cup.
- ^ As per Article 4 of entry regulations for AFC’s club competitions, each club needs to play a minimum of 24 matches per season in the domestic top division that runs for at least eight months, to receive direct slots in AFC club competitions. Since Indian clubs will have played just 19 games, the ISL winners will enter the qualifying stage of the ACL2 instead of the group stage.[38]
- ^ If Mohun Bagan, who are banned from AFC competitions until 2028–29 season, become ISL champions, the ISL league runners-up will qualify for AFC Champions League Two preliminary stage.[39]
Results
Match by match
Form
Updated to match(es) played on 16 February 2026. Source: ISL
W = Win; D = Draw; L = Lose; P = Postponed
W = Win; D = Draw; L = Lose; P = Postponed
Position by round
Updated to match(es) played on 19 February 2026. Source: Indian Super League
= Champions; = Relegation
= Champions; = Relegation
Season statistics
- As of 20 February 2026
Top scorers
Top assists
| Rank | Player | Team | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
Clean sheets
| Rank | Player | Team | Clean sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vishal Kaith
|
Mohun Bagan | 1 |
| Albino Gomes
|
Jamshedpur | ||
| Gurpreet Singh Sandhu
|
Bengaluru | ||
| Prabhsukhan Singh Gill
|
East Bengal | ||
| Phurba Lachenpa
|
Mumbai City | ||
| Hrithik Tiwari
|
Goa |
Discipline
Player
- Most yellow cards: 1
- Multiple players
- Most red cards: 1
- Lluis Tarrés (Inter Kashi)
Club
- Most yellow cards: 4
- Most red cards: 1
Attendance
- As of 19 February 2026
Regular season
| Pos | Team | Total | High | Low | Average | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mohun Bagan | 29,110 | 29,110 | 29,110 | 29,110 | −18.6% |
| 2 | East Bengal | 18,636 | 18,636 | 18,636 | 18,636 | +1.1% |
| 3 | Bengaluru | 12,377 | 12,377 | 12,377 | 12,377 | +4.6% |
| 4 | Jamshedpur | 4,341 | 4,341 | 4,341 | 4,341 | −69.6% |
| 5 | Goa | 1,577 | 1,577 | 1,577 | 1,577 | −84.7% |
| 6 | Chennaiyin | NA | ||||
| 7 | Delhi | NA¬ | ||||
| 8 | Inter Kashi | NA† | ||||
| 9 | Kerala Blasters | NA | ||||
| 10 | Mohammedan | NA | ||||
| 11 | Mumbai City | 3,426 | 3,426 | 3,426 | 3,426 | −8.2% |
| 12 | NorthEast United | NA | ||||
| 13 | Odisha | NA | ||||
| 14 | Punjab | NA | ||||
| League total | 69,467 | 29,110 | 1,577 | 11,577 | +4.4% |
Source:
Notes:
†Inter Kashi played in the I-League in the 2024–25 season.
¬Sporting Club Delhi played in the 2024–25 season as Hyderabad FC.
By home matches
| Team \ Home Game | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mohun Bagan | 29,110 | 29,110 | ||||||
| Goa | 1,577 | 1,577 | ||||||
| Bengaluru | 12,377 | 12,377 | ||||||
| Chennaiyin | ||||||||
| East Bengal | 18,636 | 18,636 | ||||||
| Inter Kashi | ||||||||
| Jamshedpur | 4,341 | 4,341 | ||||||
| Kerala Blasters | ||||||||
| Mohammedan | ||||||||
| Mumbai City | 3,426 | 3,426 | ||||||
| NorthEast United | ||||||||
| Odisha | ||||||||
| Punjab | ||||||||
| Delhi |
Legend: Highest Lowest
See also
| Level | Men's | Women's | |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | ISL | IWL | |
| II | IFL | IWL-2 | |
| III | I-League 2 | N/a | |
| IV | I-League 3 | ||
| V | State leagues of India | ||
| Men's Cup | |||
| AIFF Super Cup | |||
| Durand Cup | |||
| Youth Men's | |||
| RFD League | |||
References
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- ^ "ISL 2026 Is Here!". 13 February 2026 – via News18.
- ^ "BREAKING: ISL 2025-26 season formally on hold; FSDL informs clubs & AIFF". Khel Now. 11 July 2025. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ^ "With ISL on hold, AIFF enters new depths of incompetence". ESPN. 12 July 2025. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
- ^ "ISL likely to begin in October; MRA negotiations hinge on AIFF elections". newsn9ne. 26 August 2025. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
- ^ "Supreme Court paves way for ISL 2025/26 to start in December, no mention of fresh AIFF election". The Indian Express. 2 September 2025. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
- ^ "ISL fails to attract single bid; AIFF to 'deliberate on future course of action'". Sportstar. 7 November 2025. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
- ^ "Impasse over, ISL to begin on 14 February with the participation of all 14 clubs". Deccan Herald. 7 November 2025. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
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- ^ "AFC grants one-season exemption to India; ISL champions set to participate in ACL 2 qualifiers". Khel Now. 15 January 2025. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
- ^ "FanCode awarded ISL broadcast rights; KPS Studios bag production rights". 2 February 2026 – via The Economic Times - The Times of India.
- ^ "ISL 2025-26: Sony Sports to show Indian Super League on TV after FanCode sublicenses broadcasting rights". 14 February 2026 – via Sportstar - The Hindu.
- ^ "All decks cleared for ISL 2026? A look at where things stand". The Week. 13 January 2025. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
- ^ "ISL: For the first time, the bottom-ranked team is set for relegation". 14 February 2026 – via The Times of India.
- ^
- "Churchill get I-League title & ISL promotion after AIFF panel verdict, Inter Kashi to approach CAS". The Indian Express. 19 April 2025. Archived from the original on 20 April 2025. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- Godinho, Norma (19 April 2025). "Churchill Brothers declared I-League champs, earn ISL promotion". Rediff. Archived from the original on 20 April 2025. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- "'This Isn't Just Our Heartbreak': Inside the I-League Title Controversy That Shook Indian Football". The Wire. 21 April 2025.
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- "AIFF confirms Inter Kashi's promotion to top tier ISL". The Times of India. 8 October 2025.
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- ^ "Khalid Jamil signs full-time contract as Indian senior men's team head coach". All India Football Federation. 13 August 2025. Retrieved 16 July 2025.
- ^ "Shield-winning Coach Owen Coyle Returns to Jamshedpur FC on Two-Season Deal". Jamshedpur Football Club. 24 January 2026. Retrieved 25 January 2026.
- ^ "Jose Molina set to part ways with Mohun Bagan after Super Cup exit". Sportstar. 1 November 2025. Retrieved 21 November 2025.
- ^ a b "Mohun Bagan appoint ISL winner Sergio Lobera as new head coach". India Today. 27 November 2025. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
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