ISL 2025–26 start date to be announced next week following AIFF–ISL co-ordination committee recommendation
The committee held multiple meetings with ISL clubs.
The AIFF–ISL Three-Member Co-ordination Committee has submitted its observations and recommendations to the AIFF President after holding multiple meetings with ISL clubs. The report follows discussions held between December 22, 2025, and January 2, 2026, over the structure and conduct of the ISL 2025–26 season.
The committee includes Navas Meeran, President of the Kerala Football Association; Dr. Caitano José Fernandes, President of the Goa Football Association; and Anirban Dutta, Honorary Secretary of the Indian Football Association (West Bengal). AIFF Deputy Secretary General M. Satyanarayan participated as an ex officio member.
Through its report, the committee has outlined clear steps to start the upcoming season of the Indian Super League (ISL). The committee has issued firm directions to ensure the ISL 2025–26 season begins without further delay. It has ordered an immediate announcement of the league’s start date and asked for the short-term competition format to be finalised at once.
The committee has also stated that AIFF must act decisively as the league owner if clubs fail to reach a consensus. Importantly, it has warned that any club refusing to participate should be disqualified and relegated to the lower division.
What happened in the committee meetings?
The AIFF–ISL Three-Member Co-ordination Committee held a series of meetings with ISL clubs between December 22, 2025, and January 2, 2026. In the first meeting, AIFF presented two short-term competition models for the ISL 2025–26 season. However, the clubs were not ready to agree. Instead, they asked AIFF to first outline a long-term roadmap.
As a result, the committee worked with AIFF officials to prepare a long-term framework. This plan was presented in the next meeting and was broadly welcomed by club representatives. Following this, both sides agreed to shift focus back to the immediate season so that the league could begin without further delay.
In the subsequent meeting, discussions centred on budgets and financial commitments. The clubs asked for clear details on operating costs and their liabilities before confirming participation. They also suggested that AIFF and clubs jointly approach the Government of India for infrastructure support and PSU sponsorships.
During these talks, clubs raised the possibility of floating a fresh RFQ for a long-term, 20-year ISL structure. AIFF clarified that any such RFQ would require approval from the Hon’ble Supreme Court. At the same time, AIFF stressed that finalising the short-term format was essential to seek AFC waivers, including on minimum match requirements for Asian competitions.
Committee urges AIFF to announce league’s start date
The committee believes delays are damaging Indian football. Therefore, it has recommended immediate steps to start the league. According to the report, AIFF should take responsibility for refereeing costs and broadcast production for the 2025–26 season.
Meanwhile, clubs would continue to organise their home matches. This system, the committee notes, has worked in earlier seasons. As a result, it sees no reason to change it now.
The committee has also proposed a participation fee of ₹1 crore per club. In its view, this contribution is necessary to meet basic league expenses. However, the report places greater emphasis on urgency. It strongly urges AIFF to announce the ISL start date without any further delay.
In addition, the committee wants the short-term competition format to be finalised quickly. Ideally, this should happen through consultation with clubs. However, if talks fail, the committee states that AIFF must use its authority as league owner to decide the format.
Importantly, the report takes a strict position on participation. Any club that refuses to take part, it says, should be disqualified and relegated to the lower division. The committee argues that firm action is needed to protect the league’s credibility.
Committee’s observations and recommendations:
- AIFF should bear the cost of refereeing and broadcast production, while Clubs should organise home matches as they had done in previous editions.
- AIFF should levy a participation fee of ₹1 crore per Club.
- AIFF should immediately declare the commencement date of the ISL and ensure the tournament begins as scheduled.
- AIFF should finalise the short-term competition format in consultation with the Clubs, and in the absence of consensus, exercise its authority as league owner to finalise the format without permitting further delay or digression.
- Any Club refusing to participate should be disqualified and relegated to the immediate lower division.
- The league commencement date should be declared without any further delay.
- The Committee also presets, apart from the above modality, another proposal listed below after the conclusion in the interest of kick-starting the 2025-26 league asap.
ISL clubs’ demands and concerns before confirming participation
While the committee has pushed for speed, ISL clubs have responded cautiously. Thirteen ISL clubs, excluding Jamshedpur FC, replied to AIFF’s January 1 deadline. They said they are willing to participate, but only if key conditions are confirmed in writing.
Their biggest concern is financial responsibility. The clubs argue that AIFF is the league operator and rights holder. Therefore, if no broadcaster or commercial partner is appointed, AIFF should bear league-level operational costs.
The clubs have also opposed any participation fee for the 2025–26 season. Given the shortened format and lack of guaranteed revenue, they feel such a fee would be unfair. Instead, they want a full exemption for this interim season.
At the same time, clubs are ready to pay routine team-related expenses. However, they have rejected open-ended or unpredictable costs. According to them, financial certainty is essential for long-term stability in Indian football.
Beyond the current season, ISL clubs are asking for clarity on the future. They want AIFF to provide a clear, time-bound roadmap. This includes appointing a commercial partner, finalising revenue-sharing models, and moving towards a self-sustaining league.
Finally, the clubs have urged AIFF to seek government support. They believe this is necessary given the exceptional situation facing Indian football.
ISL 2025-26 dates to be announced shortly
Following the recommendation of the AIFF–ISL Co-ordination Committee, the federation released a statement revealing that the dates for the commencement of the ISL 2025-26 season will be announce in the upcoming week.
“The AIFF Emergency Committee met today (January 3, 2025) to consider and acknowledge the report submitted by the AIFF-ISL Coordination Committee. The Coordination Committee was constituted on December 20, 2025, following the AIFF Executive Committee meeting and the subsequent AIFF Annual General Meeting.
The Coordination Committee was requested to submit its report to the AIFF Secretariat by January 2, 2025, which was duly complied with. The report was formally acknowledged by the AIFF Emergency Committee, which recommended that the league be conducted by the All India Football Federation.
Accordingly, the AIFF will conduct the league, and the date of commencement will be announced next week.” the statement from AIFF read.
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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.