Why will I-League clubs be hit hardest with the delayed season?

While ISL is set to start on Feb 14, there is still no confirmation on the start of the I-League.

While much of the attention has been focused on the Indian Super League (ISL) and its foreign players departing for leagues across the world, there is a second-tier competition in the Indian football ecosystem known as the I-League. A delayed start to the season has hurt both the Indian Super League (ISL) and the I-League clubs.

The start date of the 2025–2026 ISL season has been fixed, and all 14 teams have publicly announced their participation. However, the questions surrounding the I-League’s start date remain unanswered. Although it was said that the I-League will run parallel with the ISL.

According to reports, the I-League would have 11 clubs competing in a single-leg round-robin style, with each club potentially playing 5 home matches and 5 away matches. The top six teams might compete in a separate group to determine the champion, while the bottom five could play each other in a single-leg round-robin style to determine which teams would be relegated.

Why does a delayed start hurt I-League clubs more than ISL clubs?

Financial and Operational Strain on I-League Clubs

Compared to ISL clubs, I-League teams often have far tighter budgets. The amount of money invested is considerably less in comparison to the top tier of Indian football as it is the second division. In such situations, I-League teams paying their players even when there is no football on the field is not financially beneficial.

Almost all I-League teams have suspended first-team operations, and it will be a monumental job for the clubs to get the players to full fitness before the season begins. And, with no football in the last nine months, the conditions of their separate training fields may not be compliant enough to restart training.

Player Contracts, Transfers, and Talent Drain Risks

The majority of players in I-League teams have short contracts, perhaps lasting one or two years. With fewer overseas players available in the ISL and clubs wanting to cut player salaries, many ISL clubs may shift their attention to I-League talent and capture them at a low price.

If the uncertainty surrounding the delay persists for another two weeks, the January transfer window will be closed, forcing I-League clubs to play the season with no key additions. While this may benefit Indian football by forcing them to play more young players, the quality of the teams might drop significantly since they may lack experience playing at the senior level and competing for promotion slots.

Commercial Uncertainty

I-League teams typically struggle to get sponsors because they believe there may not be a sufficient return on investment, even in an ideal season that begins on schedule. In the present circumstances, clubs would undoubtedly have significant challenges finding sponsor investment, as they may be hesitant about investing in such a short season with no certainty about broadcast and streaming.

Also Read: AIFF’s proposed I-League participation framework, very different from the ISL approach

Caught Between Ambition and Survival

The final and most significant decision for the teams would be whether to spend heavily on a relatively brief campaign to gain promotion or to cut spending on a short tournament to ensure survival. While it may be tempting for teams to choose option one, the latter might prove to be the best option for clubs who have already sustained significant losses this season.

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