Explained: ISL 2026-27 club-led model
ISL club-led model introduces a four-year framework
Finally, the clouds of despair hovering over the club football season of India seem to be clearing out as the recently concluded joint press conference between ISL club managing committee and AIFF brings with itself a ray of hope.
On 8th July (Wednesday), Mr. M Satyanarayan, Deputy Secretary General, AIFF, Mr. Akshay Rohatgi, Head of Competitions, AIFF, Mr. Ravi Puskur, CEO, FC Goa, Mr. Mandar Tamhane, CEO, NorthEast United FC, and Mr. Dhruv Sood, CEO, Sporting Club Delhi addressed the press conference.
The press conference cleared doubts that were surrounding Indian football. However, the key takeaway from this press conference was the club-led model for ISL 2026-27.
In this article we take a look at what is the ISL 2026-26 club-led model and a few examples of other league’s following the similar approach.
What does a club-led model mean in general?
Before knowing what the club-led model for ISL 2026-27 is, it is very important to understand what the club-led model actually means.
It is a governance structure of a league where the clubs participating take the major responsibilities ranging from commercial to operational instead of the nation’s football federation or a third party investor overseeing the league’s everyday operations.
Here, the clubs, usually a managing committee consisting of members from the clubs make key decisions from broadcasting, sponsorship to overall commercial strategy.
However we must keep in mind that this model doesn’t make the national federation completely disappear, while the clubs run the business and operations of the league, the federation is involved in making a sporting framework.
This is a model which has been widely followed across various leagues. Some of the big examples of this model are the Premier League, MLS etc.
The main idea behind a club-led model is that the primary stakeholders of the league that are the clubs participating get the best out of the league and grows it.
What is the ISL 2026-27 club-led model?
Under this new structure, the 14 participating clubs will collectively take charge of the league’s commercial and operational matters, while the AIFF will act as a sports regulatory and governance body.
The approved agreement will last for an initial period of four years, but the clubs will have an option to review and exit from the agreement if the situation arises after the completion of the first two years.
According to the model the 14 ISL clubs including recently promoted Diamond Harbour FC from IFL will pay an annual participation fee of ₹1.1 crore in two installments to the AIFF. Additionally, AIFF will also receive 10% of the league’s net profit, audit rights over the league’s accounts.
The AIFF will look after the regulations, licensing etc. while the clubs will have a greater say in the key commercial decisions.
It was also conveyed that in the 2026-27 season, OCI players who were initially supposed to have a special category will be treated as a regular foreign player with the clubs allowed to register 6 foreigners and play a maximum of 4 in the eleven.
Additionally, the proposal to field an Indian number 9 for the entire 90 minutes was not approved leaving it up to the clubs and the coaches whether they want to play a foreign striker or an Indian striker.
A quick look
- 4-year club-led model with a review and exit option after two years.
- 14 clubs to pay an annual participation fee of ₹1.1 crores in two installments.
- AIFF to retain regulatory control and receive 10% of the league’s net profits.
- Clubs to oversee the league’s commercial and operational activities.
- OCI players to be treated as foreign players (maximum 6 registered, 4 in the playing XI).
- No mandatory Indian No. 9 rule; team selection remains at the coach’s discretion.
What is a club-led model?
It is a governance structure of a league where the clubs participating take the major responsibilities ranging from commercial to operational instead of the nation’s football federation or a third-party investor overseeing the league’s everyday operations.
How much will the ISL clubs pay AIFF as a participating fee?
14 ISL clubs including recently promoted Diamond Harbour FC from IFL will pay an annual participation fee of ₹1.1 crore in two installments.
For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.
Ayushman Sharma is a sports enthusiast with a deep love for football, following the game closely since 2018. A hardcore supporter of NorthEast United FC and FC Barcelona, he has also gained valuable on-ground experience by volunteering during FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in Guwahati.