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ISL 2026–27 Season: The Indian Super League is entering a new phase with a new club-led model, the return of the traditional home-and-away format and a revamped playoff structure. The 13th edition of the country’s premier football competition will see 13 teams in action, with Churchill Brothers FC’s participation pending regulatory approval.
The upcoming ISL season will see a major change in the ISL with the entry of newly promoted Diamond Harbor FC. The club won the 2025–26 Indian Football League and got promoted but did not participate in the 2026–27 ISL season as it did not fulfil the administrative fee requirement.
The ISL 2026–27 season will start on October 10, 2026 and will end in May 2027. As many as 163 matches will be played across eight months, with the new club-led system aiming to increase investment in Indian talent and create a stronger and more sustainable football ecosystem.
ISL 2026–27: Start Date And Format
The 13th edition of the Indian Super League will start on October 10, 2026and run until May 2027. The competition will return to its traditional home-and-away round-robin formatwith teams facing each other at their respective home and away venues during the league stage.
The team finishing at the top of the table after the league stage will be crowned the ISL Shield winner and will earn a place in Asian continental competition, subject to the applicable qualification rules.
The top six teams will advance to the postseason playoffs and compete for the ISL Cup.
ISL 2026–27 Teams: Full List
A total of 13 teams are set to feature in the new ISL season: Bengaluru FC, Chennaiyin FC, East Bengal FC, FC Goa, Kerala Blasters FC, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Mumbai City FC, NorthEast United FC, Odisha FC, Punjab FC, Sporting Club Delhi, Inter Kashi FC and Churchill Brothers FC.
However, Churchill Brothers’ participation remains subject to regulatory clearance.
Why Will Diamond Harbour FC Not Play In ISL 2026–27?
Diamond Harbour FC earned promotion after winning the 2025–26 Indian Football Leaguebut the club failed to meet the required administrative fee condition and did not take up its promoted ISL place.
Under the league’s promotion-and-relegation principle, Diamond Harbour FC will not be eligible to earn any points and will be placed at the bottom of the table by default. The club will also not retain ISL status for 2027–28 and will compete in the IFL instead.
New Club-Led Model In ISL
The 2026–27 season will introduce a new club-led modelgiving participating teams greater control over decisions and the future direction of the competition.
The model aims to deliver a comprehensive calendar of competitive football, encourage greater investment in Indian talent and create a stronger, more sustainable ecosystem for football to grow in India.
ISL Winners List (2014 to 2025)
2014: ATK defeated Kerala Blasters FC.
2015: Chennaiyin FC defeated FC Goa.
2016: ATK defeated Kerala Blasters FC.
2017–18: Chennaiyin FC defeated Bengaluru FC.
2018–19: Bengaluru FC defeated FC Goa.
2019–20: ATK defeated Chennaiyin FC.
2020–21: Mumbai City FC defeated ATK Mohun Bagan.
2021–22: Hyderabad FC defeated Kerala Blasters FC.
2022–23: ATK Mohun Bagan defeated Bengaluru FC.
2023–24: Mumbai City FC defeated Mohun Bagan Super Giant.
2024–25: Mohun Bagan Super Giant defeated Bengaluru FC.
2025–26: East Bengal FC defeated Mohun Bagan Super Giant.
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