AIFF extends ISL, IWL commercial rights bid deadline to March 26
The opening of the bids has been delayed to March 27.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has officially extended the deadline for submitting bids for its commercial rights tender. The new submission date is now March 26, 2026, instead of the earlier March 19 deadline.
As a result, the federation has also pushed the opening of bids to March 27, replacing the previously scheduled March 20 timeline. The move comes shortly after the pre-bid meeting and aims to give stakeholders more time to fine-tune their proposals.
AIFF conducted its pre-bid conference on March 11, 2026. Three companies took part in the process after completing the required formalities.
Among them were FanCode and Capri Global. Capri Global is understood to be particularly interested in investing in women’s football properties. In addition, GMR group also attended the meeting.
Eligibility criteria and bidding process
AIFF released the Request for Proposal (RFP) on March 2, 2026. The document outlines strict eligibility conditions for all interested bidders.
To participate, companies must first purchase the RFP by paying a non-refundable fee of ₹2.5 lakh. AIFF shares the document only via email after confirming payment.
Importantly, the entity that purchases the RFP must be the one submitting the bid. It cannot transfer participation rights to any affiliate or partner.
If a company fails to meet this requirement, AIFF will reject its bid without evaluation. Furthermore, simply purchasing the RFP does not guarantee selection. The federation will assess only those bids that meet all technical and financial criteria.
The rights on offer span multiple revenue streams. These include advertising, sponsorship, media, digital, and data rights. In addition, bidders can acquire merchandising, film, and event-related rights linked to the competitions.
Package details of commercial rights
AIFF has divided the tender into two major packages to streamline the process.
Package A – Club Competitions (Men)
Commercial Rights relating to the following men’s club competitions owned, organized and/or sanctioned by the AIFF:
- Indian Super League (or the seniormost men’s professional football league competition, as it may be known).
- Federation Cup (or the senior most cup competitions for professional men’s football clubs).
Package B – Club Competitions (Women)
Commercial Rights relating to the following women’s club competitions owned, organized and/or sanctioned by the AIFF:
- Indian Women’s League (or the seniormost women’s professional football league competition, as it may be known).
- Indian Women’s League 2 (or the second division of women’s professional football league competition, as it may be known).
Which companies attended the pre-bid meeting?
FanCode, Capri Global, and one European company attended.
When will AIFF open the bids?
AIFF will open both technical and commercial bids on March 27, 2026.
What competitions are included in the tender?
ISL, Federation Cup, IWL, and IWL 2 are included.
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A sports journalist for over 4 years, Triyasha has been covering Indian Football and Kanbaddi meticulously, She specialises in in-depth knowledge of the game, the players and the footballing infrastructure and heritage in India.