AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey reaffirms ISL 2025-26; confirms Super Cup to take place before league

AIFF-ISL clubs to meet to decide on Super Cup date and format.

Following the all-important AIFF-FSDL-ISL clubs’ CEO meeting in New Delhi today, All India Football Federation (AIFF) president, Kalyan Chaubey, reaffirmed to the Indian Super League (ISL) clubs that the 2025-26 season will indeed take place but is likely to do so later than originally planned.

He also reiterated the decision of AIFF to go through with the Super Cup to take place before the new league campaign begins, but the exact dates for hosting either tournament are still up in the air.

Also Read: AIFF-FSDL-ISL Clubs meeting & press conference Highlights

Super Cup rescheduled for National Team’s benefit

In an interaction with the press after their meeting with the ISL clubs’ hierarchy, Chaubey insisted that the utmost priority is for the Indian football team to prepare for taking part in the 2025 CAFA Nations Cup. After that, current plans indicate that the Super Cup will happen before the ISL campaign 2025-26 kicks off.

“The issue is that, whatever the situation may be, the game cannot be stopped. We also assured club owners that we understand the current scenario. An individual cannot control a sport or a nation. Football is a matter of national interest, and football will go on, ” Chaubey stated, speaking about the future of the Indian domestic football scene.

“The clubs asked how this would happen, given certain challenges—particularly transfer window deadlines (which close on August 31) and the need to plan pre-season, which some clubs have not yet started.

India’s senior men’s football team are due to play CAFA Nation Cup 2025 and Singapore in the all-important Asian Cup qualifiers in September and October. Yet, most players haven’t played competitive football in months.

We discussed and collectively decided that, at the end of this month, the national team will participate in CAFA, a tournament running until the first week of next month. In October, India has two crucial matches—home and away—against Singapore. Considering the national interest, and the under-23 team’s preparations, clubs need regular competition,” he further claimed.

Super Cup format to undergo modification to make it more cost-effective

Furthermore, Chaubey spoke about plans to host the Super Cup and the plans for the ISL structure. He stated that unlike previous seasons where the Super Cup was held after the league, it might now be scheduled before the ISL.

He explained that due to the current situation, clubs are losing close to a month, and with a hard deadline of May 31 next year to align with the AFC calendar, the Federation is exploring ways to save time and reduce costs. One option could be modifying the tournament format to cut down on logistics.

“Previously, the Super Cup was scheduled at the end of the season. Given the current situation, we may reschedule the Super Cup to before the league—helping clubs play competitive matches before the league. We are losing about a month and must finish the season by May 31 next year to fit the AFC window. The current commercial agreement is also up for renewal this calendar year. Thus, together with the clubs, we’ve agreed that, if required, we can modify the tournament format to save on logistics and other costs.

“Once clubs start pre-season, normalcy will return. The exact start date for the Super Cup is not yet fixed, as some clubs have not begun pre-season; at least six to eight weeks will be needed. We will do a follow-up meeting in the next seven to ten days. Before that, clubs can coordinate with our office, and together we will decide the Super Cup kickoff date.

‘ISL to happen for sure’

Kalyan Chaubey confirmed that both the Super Cup and the league will take place this season, with the Super Cup now set to be held before the ISL kicks off. He stressed that this clarity is crucial for clubs, as it helps them plan their squads and manage their finances better.

Chaubey added that once clubs begin their pre-season, things will settle down. He also pointed out the urgency of completing the league by May 31, warning that missing this deadline could mean losing the AFC window and potentially damaging India’s ranking.

“It has been decided that both the Super Cup and the league will be held, with the Super Cup preceding the league. Clubs need this certainty to manage their squads and financial commitments for the season. If we do not complete the league by May 31, we lose the AFC window and our ranking could drop. These are not isolated concerns—many aspects are at stake,” he added.

There is still a lot of grey area over the future of the 2025-26 ISL campaign. That is because of the ongoing legal case in the Indian Supreme Court over the AIFF constitution, stopping the federation from negotiating with the FSDL (Football Sports Development Limited) over the future of the Master Rights Agreement (MRA).

The current MRA, which was penned way back in 2010 for a 15-year term, ends in December (2025) and that is why the ISL campaign is stuck in limbo.

“Since the AIFF constitution case is pending and a judgement is expected, our future planning depends on that outcome. We cannot predict today what will happen tomorrow. However, football will continue as planned, and whatever fixtures are set will be honoured as per schedule. It has been decided that both the Super Cup and the league will be held, with the Super Cup preceding the league,” said Kalyan Chaubey

Clubs need this certainty to manage their squads and financial commitments for the season. If we do not complete the league by May 31, we lose the AFC window and our ranking could drop. These are not isolated concerns—many aspects are at stake.”

Is this the final resolution?

Once the Supreme Court passes the verdict on the AIFF constitution and the legal matter is resolved, only then can the federation sit down with the FSDL and ISL clubs to discuss the renewal of the MRA. The FSDL does not reportedly want to continue their current agreement of paying 50 crore every year to the AIFF for organizing the ISL.

Instead, they hope to set up a new agreement for running the ISL, which will see revenue distribution divided among the ISL clubs, the FSDL and the AIFF. The Super Cup looks set to take place before the new ISL campaign can begin, and this tournament might act as a preseason one for the clubs not participating in the Durand Cup.

As per Chaubey’s comments, it appears that the Super Cup will be shorter in terms of the duration, meaning multiple games could be held in a single day to accelerate through the tournament.

FC Goa are the defending champions of the Super Cup after having won the previous tournament at the end of the 2024-25 season. Mohun Bagan are the defending champions of the ISL, having won both the league shield title and the ISL championship last season.

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