EXCLUSIVE: EA Sports signs new four-year deal with ISL; East Bengal to miss FC 27 licensing
League secures improved agreement as clubs take over commercial rights; East Bengal set to feature as a generic team
The Indian Super League (ISL) has secured another major commercial boost ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Khel Now can exclusively reveal that EA Sports has signed a new four-year agreement with the ISL, ensuring India’s top-flight league will continue to feature in the EA Sports FC franchise after the expiry of the previous licensing deal.
The new agreement has been negotiated directly by the ISL clubs as they prepare to take charge of the league’s commercial and operational rights following the end of Football Sports Development Limited’s (FSDL) Master Rights Agreement with the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
According to sources tracking the negotiations, the new agreement is significantly larger than the previous deal.
“ISL clubs have successfully negotiated a new four-year agreement with EA Sports. The new deal is bigger than the previous one in every aspect, with the annual financial value increasing by more than 26 percent compared to the last agreement,” a source tracking the development told Khel Now.
The agreement ensures that ISL clubs will continue to appear in EA Sports FC, giving Indian football, sponsors and players continued global visibility through the world’s biggest football gaming franchises.
It was Khel Now that first reported in 2019 that the ISL would feature in FIFA Mobile, and later revealed in 2021 that the league would arrive on consoles with FIFA 22.
ISL defending champions East Bengal set to miss official licensing
While the league has secured a new agreement, one notable club will not officially be featured.
Sources confirmed that 13 ISL clubs, including newly promoted Diamond Harbour FC, have completed the licensing process with EA Sports.
Diamond Harbour and Inter Kashi will make their debut in the EA Sports FC gaming series in the 2027 edition.
However, reigning ISL champions East Bengal have been unable to sign the agreement due to changes to the club’s ownership structure following Emami’s departure.
According to sources, EA Sports had imposed strict licensing deadlines that every participating club needed to meet.
“EA Sports gave clubs a strict deadline to complete the documentation. East Bengal received multiple reminders but could not complete the process in time,” an ISL representative told Khel Now.
East Bengal also informed fellow ISL clubs of the situation through formal communication.
“As directed by our management, we will not be signing any letters until our new Board of Directors comes on board. This process will take a few more days to be finalised.”
As things stand, East Bengal’s players are expected to appear in EA Sports FC 27 under a generic club, similar to Inter Kashi’s appearance in FC 26 as “United Tigers.”
The club’s official identity—including its crest, kit and branding—is not expected to feature in the game unless the licensing situation changes.
“The first question to ask is, how can a club that says it is unable to sign a relatively straightforward document because it lacks the corporate authority to do so simultaneously be out in the market offering significant contracts to players and coaches? Which company is signing those contracts then?” a source tracking development said.
Bigger deal under the new ISL structure
The agreement also represents one of the first major commercial deals negotiated by the clubs following the restructuring of the ISL.
After FSDL exited its Master Rights Agreement with AIFF, clubs agreed to jointly oversee the league’s commercial and operational responsibilities from the 2026-27 season onwards.
Securing an improved licensing agreement with EA Sports is expected to provide confidence as clubs continue discussions over future sponsorship and broadcast partnerships.
The 2026-27 ISL season is expected to begin on 4 September.
Meanwhile, EA Sports FC 27 is expected to be officially unveiled with a first look later this month, and industry reports suggest the game could introduce an open-world mode, along with major upgrades to Ultimate Team, Career Mode, and gameplay, before its anticipated September launch.
Why is East Bengal not officially featured in EA Sports FC 27?
East Bengal could not complete the licensing process before EA Sports’ deadline due to changes in the club’s ownership and board structure.
Will East Bengal players still appear in FC 27?
Yes. According to sources, East Bengal players are expected to feature as part of a generic team, similar to Inter Kashi’s appearance as “United Tigers” in EA Sports FC 26.
How long is the new EA Sports-ISL agreement?
The new licensing agreement is for four years.
Which clubs have signed the new EA Sports deal?
Thirteen ISL clubs, including newly promoted Diamond Harbour FC, have completed the licensing agreement with EA Sports.
Is the new EA Sports and ISL deal bigger than the previous one?
According to sources, the new agreement carries an annual financial increase of more than 26% compared to the previous licensing deal.
When will EA Sports FC 27 be released?
EA Sports is expected to unveil FC 27 later this month, with the game widely expected to launch in September 2026.
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Ashish Negi is the co-founder and CEO of Khel Now. A computer engineering graduate from LPU (2015), he has been closely following and covering Indian football and sports since 2007. He started the Indian Football Team Facebook page in 2013 and later handed it over to the AIFF in 2015 when it had grown to over 500K followers. Ashish continues to drive Khel Now’s vision while staying deeply connected to the pulse of Indian sport.