AFC grants one-season exemption to India; ISL champions set to participate in ACL 2 qualifiers
ISL 2025-26 will run from February 14 to May 17, 2026.
The Indian Super League (ISL) 2025-26 season has received a much-needed boost after the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) granted India a one-season exemption from the mandatory 24-match league requirement. With this relaxation, the ISL champions and Super Cup winners i.e, FC GOa will be eligible to participate in the AFC Champions League Two (ACL 2) qualifiers next season.
The decision arrives at a key moment for Indian football. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) had been waiting for formal communication from the AFC before locking the domestic calendar. Once the exemption was confirmed, the federation moved ahead with scheduling and operational planning for the upcoming ISL season.
Earlier, AIFF had directed clubs to submit a participation fee of ₹1 crore by January 12. Clubs were also asked to confirm their home venues within the same deadline. These steps were required to begin fixture planning for the new season, which is scheduled to start on February 14.
With the AFC exemption now in place, India retains its continental representation. As a result, clubs can plan their squads and campaigns without the risk of losing Asian slots due to reduced league matches.
ISL 2025-26 format confirmed
All 14 clubs have confirmed participation in the upcoming Indian Super League season. The league will be played in a single home-and-away format, producing a total of 91 matches running till May 17th will no playoff stages.
Due to the condensed calendar, fixtures will mainly be scheduled as double-headers on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Kick-off times have been set at 5:30 PM and 7:00 PM IST. In addition, one standalone matchday on Thursday has been included in the schedule.
AIFF sets timelines for broadcast, commercial and governance plans
Following the AFC exemption, the AIFF will continue with an outlined and detailed action plan for the ISL 2025-26. An RFP for securing a broadcast partner for the 2025–26 season was supposed to be published on January 14, followed by an RFP for a commercial partner on January 15.
The deadline for broadcast bids is January 29, while commercial bids will close on January 30. Both partners are expected to be onboarded by February 5.
AIFF also plans to finalise the league’s long-term structure and governance model by January 20. Discussions on 20-year participation agreements are set to conclude by February 15. Club licensing norms, financial fair play models and salary caps for the ISL from the 2026–27 season onwards will be finalised by April 1.
When does the ISL 2025–26 season start?
The ISL season is scheduled to begin on February 14 and will run till May 17.
How many matches will the ISL 2025–26 season have?
The season will feature 91 matches with 14 participating clubs.
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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.