ISL 2025–26 Season Start Date Confirmed
The Indian Super League (ISL) 2025–26 season has been officially confirmed by the All India Football Federation (AIFF), which has also released the complete league fixture list. The announcement brings clarity after a period of administrative and contractual delays that had temporarily put the season on hold, affecting club planning and preseason timelines.
The ISL 2025–26 season will begin on Friday, 14 February 2026, marking the start of the league’s 12th edition. The competition is scheduled to run through May 2026, offering a clearly defined window for the domestic football calendar. A February kickoff gives clubs adequate time to complete preseason preparations and player registrations, while also ensuring better alignment with Asian Football Confederation (AFC) competitions and continental scheduling requirements.
Opening Matches of ISL 2025–26
The season will open with two matches on the first day, featuring established clubs and a newly promoted side.
Opening Day – 14 February 2026
- Mohun Bagan Super Giant vs Kerala Blasters FC
Venue: Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata
Kick-off: 5:00 PM IST - FC Goa vs Inter Kashi FC
Venue: Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Fatorda
Kick-off: 7:30 PM IST
These fixtures officially mark the beginning of ISL Season 12.
How Many Teams are Playing ISL 2025–26?
The ISL 2025–26 season features 14 teams, including traditional ISL clubs and sides that have earned promotion from the I-League.
Confirmed Teams for ISL 2025–26
- Mohun Bagan Super Giant
- Mumbai City FC
- FC Goa
- Bengaluru FC
- Kerala Blasters FC
- East Bengal FC
- Chennaiyin FC
- Jamshedpur FC
- Odisha FC
- Punjab FC
- NorthEast United FC
- Mohammedan SC
- Sporting Club Delhi
- Inter Kashi FC
The expanded lineup strengthens regional representation and increases competitive depth across the league.
Read More: History of Indian Football
ISL 2025–26 Competition Format
The ISL 2025–26 format follows a single-leg round-robin league system.
- Each team plays 13 league matches
- Total emphasis on league standings
- Fewer matches per club compared to previous seasons
- Every fixture carries high significance due to the compact schedule
This streamlined format places greater importance on squad rotation, fitness management, and consistency.
ISL 2025–26 Fixtures and Schedule
With the season timeline now confirmed, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has also released the complete ISL 2025–26 fixture list, detailing the match schedule for the league phase. Matches are scheduled from 14 February to May 2026, covering all 13 matchdays of the competition.
The fixtures are spread across weekends and select weekdays to ensure continuous football action throughout the season. Fans can refer to the official ISL 2025–26 fixtures document released by AIFF for the full match list and scheduling details.
Kick-off timings beyond the opening fixtures may be updated closer to matchdays, subject to operational planning and broadcast requirements.
Host Cities and Stadiums – ISL 2025–26
ISL 2025–26 matches will be played across major football venues in India, giving fans nationwide the opportunity to watch the league live in their home regions. The wide geographic spread highlights the Indian Super League’s national reach and ensures consistent fan engagement throughout the season.
| Host City | Stadium (Confirmed / Reported) |
| Kolkata | Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan |
| Goa | Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Fatorda |
| Jamshedpur | JRD Tata Sports Complex |
| Bengaluru | Sree Kanteerava Stadium |
| Kochi | Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi |
| Chennai | Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai |
| Guwahati | Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium |
| Bhubaneswar | Kalinga Stadium |
| Mumbai | Mumbai Football Arena |
| Delhi | Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Delhi |
| Punjab | Guru Nanak Stadium (reported home venue) |
Why Was ISL 2025–26 Delayed?
The 2025–26 ISL season was delayed following the expiry of the Master Rights Agreement (MRA) between AIFF and Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) in December 2025.
Legal directions restricted AIFF from renewing or signing commercial contracts until governance and constitutional matters were resolved. Without a valid agreement, league operations were temporarily placed on hold.
With these issues addressed, AIFF has now confirmed fixtures and operational timelines for the season.
Broadcast and Live Streaming Information
FanCode has secured the exclusive global broadcast and digital streaming rights for the ISL 2025–26 season, as awarded by the All India Football Federation. All matches will be available for live streaming and on-demand viewing on FanCode’s platform in India. Discussions are underway for sublicensing linear television broadcast, but official TV partners have not yet been confirmed.
What to Expect in ISL Season 12?
The ISL 2025–26 season, marking the league’s 12th edition, is expected to be a closely contested campaign due to its compact structure and confirmed calendar. With 14 teams competing in a single-leg round-robin format, every match carries increased importance, as clubs have fewer opportunities to recover dropped points during the season.
The February–May schedule allows teams to plan preseason preparations more effectively and manage player workloads across the campaign. The reduced fixture list places greater emphasis on tactical discipline, squad depth, and fitness levels, while matches spread across multiple host cities ensure consistent action and competitive encounters throughout the league phase.
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Frequently Asked Questions
ISL 2025–26 matches will be available for live streaming and on-demand viewing on FanCode in India, which holds the exclusive digital rights for the season as awarded by the All India Football Federation (AIFF). Details regarding any linear television broadcast partners, if applicable, have not yet been officially confirmed.
The Indian Super League is not operated by FIFA directly, but it functions under the All India Football Federation (AIFF), which is affiliated with FIFA. This makes the ISL an officially recognised domestic competition within Indian football.
The Indian Super League is organised under the authority of the All India Football Federation (AIFF). Commercial operations were previously managed by Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), following the expiry of the Master Rights Agreement in December 2025.
The ISL 2025–26 season features 14 teams, including established Indian Super League clubs and newly promoted sides from the I-League. The expanded lineup increases competition and regional representation across the league.
