Template:Infobox football league season
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 14 February and ends on 17 May 2026 with 91 matches to be played in this period.[1]
Mohun Bagan are the defending champions, having won their second Indian Super League title and seventh Indian title last season.
Background
Developments
- 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.[2][3] 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.[4][5]
- 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.[6]
- 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.[7]
- 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.[8]
- 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.[9]
- 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.[10] 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.[11]
Changes from last season
- This is the first season without the post-season ISL Cup playoffs.[12] The 14 participating clubs will compete in a single-leg round-robin format, with each team playing 13 matches. The table toppers at the end of the league will be crowned the Champions.[1]
- The AIFF will implement relegation this season onwards, despite objections from all 14 clubs, who cited the shortened season as their primary concern.[13]
- ISL clubs qualify for AFC continental club competitions, with the league champions earning qualification for the subsequent season's AFC Champions League Two group stage.[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
| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bengaluru | Bengaluru | Sree Kanteerava Stadium | 25,810 |
| Chennaiyin | Chennai | Marina Arena | 40,000 |
| SC Delhi | New Delhi | Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium | 60,254 |
| East Bengal | Kolkata | Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan | 68,000 |
| Goa | Margao | Fatorda Stadium | 19,000 |
| Inter KashiTemplate:Efn | Varanasi | Kishore Bharati Krirangan | 12,000 |
| Jamshedpur | Jamshedpur | JRD Tata Sports Complex | 24,424 |
| Kerala Blasters | Kochi | Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium | 40,000 |
| Mohammedan | Kolkata | Kishore Bharati Krirangan | 12,000 |
| 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 |
| PunjabTemplate:Efn | Mohali | Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium | 60,254 |
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 ISL 2025-26 fixtures announced. the-aiff.com. All India Football Federation. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
- ↑ 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(2025-09-02). Retrieved 2025-09-08.
- ↑ ISL fails to attract single bid; AIFF to ‘deliberate on future course of action’. Sportstar(2025-11-07). Retrieved 2025-11-08.
- ↑ Impasse over, ISL to begin on 14 February with the participation of all 14 clubs. Deccan Herald(2025-11-07). Retrieved 2026-01-06.
- ↑ All clubs confirm participation for ISL 2025-26. Khel Now(2026-01-12). Retrieved 2026-01-14.
- ↑ AFC grants one-season exemption to India; ISL champions set to participate in ACL 2 qualifiers. Khel Now(2026-01-15). Retrieved 2026-01-15.
- ↑ FanCode awarded ISL broadcast rights; KPS Studios bag production rights(2 February 2026).
- ↑ ISL 2025-26: Sony Sports to show Indian Super League on TV after FanCode sublicenses broadcasting rights(14 February 2026).
- ↑ ISL 2026 begins with Indian Football continuing to revel in the absurd, Anirudh, Menon. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
- ↑ ISL: For the first time, the bottom-ranked team is set for relegation(14 February 2026).
- ↑ India spots restricted to Asian Champions League 2, despite increase in berths in ACL Elite. Sportstar(2026-04-24). Retrieved 2026-04-25.
- ↑
- Churchill get I-League title & ISL promotion after AIFF panel verdict, Inter Kashi to approach CAS(19 April 2025). Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- Churchill Brothers declared I-League champs, earn ISL promotion(19 April 2025). Retrieved 20 April 2025.
- 'This Isn’t Just Our Heartbreak': Inside the I-League Title Controversy That Shook Indian Football(21 April 2025).
- Inter Kashi crowned I-League 2024-25 champion after CAS ruling(18 July 2025).
- AIFF confirms Inter Kashi's promotion to top tier ISL(8 October 2025).
- ↑ ISL 2025-26: Hyderabad FC Rebrands As Sporting Club Delhi Ahead Of Next Season(7 October 2025). Retrieved 9 October 2025.
- ↑ Hyderabad FC now Sporting Club Delhi: Everything to know about ISL's capital return. India Today(7 October 2025). Retrieved 18 October 2025.
- ↑ Sporting Club Delhi launched, to make debut in Super Cup after being rebranded from Hyderabad FC. The Indian Express(18 December 2025). Retrieved 18 October 2025.
Personnel and kits
Managerial changes
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kerala Blasters | Script error: No such module "flag". TG Purushothaman | End of interim spell | 25 March 2025[1] | Pre-season | Script error: No such module "flag". David Català | 25 March 2025[2] |
| SC Delhi | Script error: No such module "flag". Shameel Chembakath | 31 May 2025[3] | Script error: No such module "flag". Tomasz Tchórz | 19 October 2025[4] | ||
| Chennaiyin | Script error: No such module "flag". Owen Coyle | Mutual consent | 17 July 2025[5] | Script error: No such module "flag". Clifford Miranda | 12 September 2025[6] | |
| Jamshedpur | Script error: No such module "flag". Khalid Jamil | Signed by India | 13 August 2025[7] | Script error: No such module "flag". Owen Coyle | 24 January 2026[8] | |
| Mohun Bagan | Script error: No such module "flag". José Francisco Molina | Sacked | 26 November 2025[9] | Script error: No such module "flag". Sergio Lobera | 26 November 2025[10] | |
| Bengaluru | Script error: No such module "flag". Gerard Zaragoza | Mutual consent | 14 November 2025[11] | Script error: No such module "flag". Renedy Singh | 14 November 2025[12] | |
| Odisha | Script error: No such module "flag". Sergio Lobera | 26 November 2025[10] | Script error: No such module "flag". TG Purushothaman | 5 February 2026[13] | ||
| Bengaluru | Script error: No such module "flag". Renedy Singh | 25 March 2026 | 5th | Script error: No such module "flag". Pep Muñoz | 25 March 2026[14] | |
| Kerala Blasters | Script error: No such module "flag". David Català | 27 March 2026[15] | 13th | Script error: No such module "flag". Ashley Westwood | 27 March 2026[16] |
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.[17]
Due to the uncertainty surrounding Indian football, a number of foreign players exited their clubs before the start of the shortened season.[18][19]
League table
Template:2025–26 Indian Super League points table
Results
Match by match
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Form
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Position by round
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Season statistics
Top scorers
| Rank | Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Template:Flagicon Youssef Ezzejjari | East Bengal | 10 |
| 2 | Template:Flagicon Jamie Maclaren | Mohun Bagan | 8 |
| 3 | Template:Flagicon Effiong Nsungusi | Punjab | 7 |
| 4 | Template:Flagicon Dejan Dražić | Goa | 6 |
| 5 | Template:Flagicon Lallianzuala Chhangte | Mumbai City | 4 |
| Template:Flagicon Braian Sánchez | Bengaluru | ||
| Template:Flagicon Alfred Planas | Inter Kashi | ||
| Template:Flagicon Matija Babović | SC Delhi | ||
| 9 | Template:Flagicon Anwar Ali | East Bengal | 3 |
| Template:Flagicon Robinho | Mohun Bagan | ||
| Template:Flagicon Dani Ramírez | Punjab | ||
| Template:Flagicon Andy Rodríguez | NorthEast United | ||
| Template:Flagicon Edmund Lalrindika | East Bengal | ||
| Template:Flagicon Víctor Bertomeu | Kerala Blasters | ||
| Template:Flagicon Ashique Kuruniyan | Bengaluru | ||
| Template:Flagicon Noufal PN | Mumbai City | ||
| Template:Flagicon Rahim Ali | Odisha | ||
| Template:Flagicon Joseph Sunny | SC Delhi |
Top assists
| Rank | Player | Team | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Template:Flagicon Ebindas Yesudasan | Kerala Blasters | 5 |
| 2 | Template:Flagicon Miguel Figueira | East Bengal | 3 |
| Template:Flagicon Madih Talal | Jamshedpur | ||
| Template:Flagicon Rahim Ali | Odisha | ||
| Template:Flagicon Vishnu PV | East Bengal | ||
| Template:Flagicon Subhasish Bose | Mohun Bagan | ||
| 7 | 20 players | 2 | |
Clean sheets
| Rank | Player | Team | Clean sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Template:Flagicon Hrithik Tiwari | Goa | 5 |
| Template:Flagicon Phurba Lachenpa | Mumbai City | ||
| 3 | Template:Flagicon Vishal Kaith | Mohun Bagan | 4 |
| Template:Flagicon Gurpreet Singh Sandhu | Bengaluru | ||
| Template:Flagicon Prabhsukhan Singh Gill | East Bengal | ||
| Template:Flagicon Albino Gomes | Jamshedpur | ||
| Template:Flagicon Arshdeep Singh | Punjab | ||
| 8 | Template:Flagicon Mohammad Nawaz | Chennaiyin | 3 |
| Template:Flagicon Nora Fernandes | SC Delhi | ||
| 10 | Template:Flagicon Arsh Anwer Shaikh | Kerala Blasters | 1 |
| Template:Flagicon Lluis Tarrés | Inter Kashi | ||
| Template:Flagicon Amrinder Singh | Odisha | ||
| Template:Flagicon Shubham Dhas | Inter Kashi | ||
| Template:Flagicon Padam Chettri | Mohammedan |
Discipline
Player
- Most yellow cards: 4
- Template:Flagicon Dejan Dražić (Goa)
- Template:Flagicon Ayush Chhetri (Goa)
- Template:Flagicon Bijoy Varghese (Punjab)
- Template:Flagicon Naocha Singh (Kerala Blasters)
- Template:Flagicon Gaurav Bora (Mohammedan)
- Template:Flagicon Joni Kauko (Mumbai City)
- Most red cards: 1
- 12 players
Club
- Most yellow cards: 35
- NorthEast United
- Most red cards: 2
- Kerala Blasters
- Jamshedpur
- Inter Kashi
Attendance
Regular season
Template:Fb a header Template:Fb a2 team Template:Fb a2 team Template:Fb a2 team Template:Fb a2 team Template:Fb a2 team Template:Fb a2 team Template:Fb a2 team Template:Fb a2 team Template:Fb a2 team Template:Fb a2 team Template:Fb a2 team Template:Fb a2 team Template:Fb a2 team Template:Fb a2 team Template:Fb a footer
By home matches
| Team \ Home Game | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mohun Bagan | 29,110 | 22,765 | 30,047 | 19,727[21] | 26,997 | 12,222 | 140,868 | ||
| Goa | 1,577 | 5,160 | 2,532 | 2,237 | 4,820 | 16,326 | |||
| Bengaluru | 12,347 | 13,623 | 9,614 | 20,214 | 21,714 | 14,723 | 92,235 | ||
| Chennaiyin | 6,389 | 2,966 | 2,947 | 2,623 | 2,894 | 17,819 | |||
| East Bengal | 18,636 | 20,386 | 22,899 | 12,853 | 13,379 | 11,213 | 13,244 | 233Template:Efn | 112,843 |
| Inter Kashi | N/ATemplate:Efn | N/ATemplate:Efn | 215 | 215 | |||||
| Jamshedpur | 4,341 | 7,230 | 7,856 | 12,789 | 10,236 | 6,339 | 5,699 | 54,490 | |
| Kerala Blasters | 16,243 | 7,586 | 6,435 | 2,863 | 3,621 | 3,213 | 7,548 | 47,509 | |
| Mohammedan | 4,240 | 340 | 4,580 | ||||||
| Mumbai City | 3,426 | 3,911 | 2,190 | 3,674 | 3,649 | 16,850 | |||
| NorthEast United | 7,473 | 6,379 | 3,564 | 3,847 | 3,221 | 3,342 | 27,826 | ||
| Odisha | 2,421 | 3,218 | 2,678 | 217Template:Efn | 8,534 | ||||
| Punjab | 3,897 | 3,216 | 2,906 | 2,737 | 2,534 | 15,290 | |||
| Delhi | 6,732 | 8,153 | 7,761 | 8,261 | 30,907 |
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See also
- Men
- 2025–26 Indian Football League (Tier II)
- 2025–26 I-League 2 (Tier III)
- 2025–26 I-League 3 (Tier IV)
- 2025–26 Indian State Leagues (Tier V)
- 2025–26 AIFF Super Cup
- 2025 Durand Cup
- 2026 Reliance Foundation Development League
- Women
References
- ↑ David Català joins Kerala Blasters(25 March 2025). Retrieved 19 July 2025.
- ↑ Kerala Blasters FC name David Catala as new head coach(25 March 2025). Retrieved 19 July 2025.
- ↑ We have made plenty of progress as a team: Shameel Chembakath(11 March 2025). Retrieved 9 October 2025.
- ↑ Sporting Club Delhi FC appoint Tomasz Tchorz as their new head coach. Khel Now.
- ↑ Chennaiyin FC and head coach Owen Coyle mutually part ways(17 July 2025). Retrieved 18 July 2025.
- ↑ Clifford agrees terms with Chennaiyin FC, set to become chief coach. The Times of India(2025-09-12). Retrieved 2025-09-12.
- ↑ Khalid Jamil signs full-time contract as Indian senior men’s team head coach(13 August 2025). Retrieved 16 July 2025.
- ↑ Shield-winning Coach Owen Coyle Returns to Jamshedpur FC on Two-Season Deal. Jamshedpur Football Club(2026-01-24). Retrieved 2026-01-25.
- ↑ Jose Molina set to part ways with Mohun Bagan after Super Cup exit(1 November 2025). Retrieved 21 November 2025.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Mohun Bagan appoint ISL winner Sergio Lobera as new head coach. India Today(2025-11-27). Retrieved 2025-11-27.
- ↑ Former Bengaluru FC coach Gerard Zaragoza joins Super League Greece club Panserraikos FC as head coach(16 November 2025). Retrieved 21 November 2025.
- ↑ ISL 2025-26: Renedy Singh named Bengaluru FC head coach, Sportstar, Team. Sportstar(2026-01-21). Retrieved 2026-01-21.
- ↑ Odisha FC sign T.G. Purushothaman as head coach for ISL 2025–26(5 February 2026). Retrieved 5 February 2026.
- ↑ ISL 2025-26: Bengaluru FC appoints Pep Munoz as head coach. newsgram(2026-03-26). Retrieved 2026-03-26.
- ↑ Kerala Blasters sack Catala, Spaniard departs as first head coach without a win in ISL(27 March 2026). Retrieved 27 March 2026.
- ↑ Kerala Blasters appoint Westwood, a coach who knows Indian football from pre-ISL days(27 March 2026). Retrieved 27 March 2026.
- ↑ ISL 2025-26 Summer Transfers: List of Club-Wise Departures, Extensions and News Signings(24 July 2025). Retrieved 27 July 2025.
- ↑ List of foreigners who left ISL due to uncertainty in Indian Football(15 January 2025). Retrieved 15 January 2025.
- ↑ ISL 2025-26: All completed transfers ahead of the new season(1 February 2026). Retrieved 3 February 2026.
- ↑ Indian Super League table, schedule & stats. Sofascore.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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External links
Template:Indian Super League Template:Indian football league seasons Template:2025–26 in Indian football Template:2025–26 in Asian football (AFC) Template:Authority control