Nivia retains ISL ball rights after beating competition from two foreign brands
Leading Indian sports manufacturing brand beats competition from two foreign companies to continue its long-standing association with India’s top-flight league
The Indian Super League (ISL) has secured another commercial partnership ahead of the 2026-27 season, with Indian sports manufacturing brand Nivia Sports extending its association with the league.
Khel Now can exclusively reveal that Nivia Sports and the ISL have agreed a new two-year deal, beginning with the 2026-27 season, which will see the company continue as the league’s official ball and equipment partner.
Under the agreement, Nivia will supply the official match balls for the ISL and all 14 participating clubs throughout the season. The deal also covers referee kits and apparel for the ISL’s central team.
Nivia faced competition from two foreign sports brands during the process but eventually retained the rights.
“Nivia beat competition from two foreign brands to continue its association with the ISL. The agreement includes a cash component along with all the league’s match-ball requirements, referee kits and kits for the ISL central team,” a source tracking the development told Khel Now.
The exact financial value of the agreement remains undisclosed.
Third major commercial deal under the club-led ISL model
The Nivia agreement becomes the third major commercial partnership secured by ISL clubs since taking over the league’s commercial and operational responsibilities following the end of Football Sports Development Limited’s (FSDL) Master Rights Agreement with the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
Khel Now earlier exclusively reported that the ISL had secured a new four-year licensing agreement with EA Sports, ensuring India’s top-flight league will continue to feature in the EA Sports FC franchise following the expiry of the previous deal.
That was followed by another significant agreement with Switzerland-based sports technology company Sportradar.
The ISL and Sportradar agreed a new four-year partnership worth US$6 million (approximately ₹57 crore), with the company continuing as the league’s Data and Integrity Partner through the 2029-30 season.
With the Nivia deal now secured as well, ISL clubs have managed to retain three existing commercial partners during the transition to the league’s new club-led structure.
Nivia continue long association with Indian football
For Nivia, the new agreement extends a relationship with Indian football that goes back several decades.
The Indian sports manufacturing brand has been associated with football at different levels in the country, including a long-standing relationship with the Santosh Trophy dating back to the 1970s.
Nivia has also worked extensively with Indian football clubs as a kit and equipment partner over the years.
Its association with the ISL began in the 2018-19 season, when Nivia became the league’s official ball partner. The company has continued supplying match balls to the competition since then and will now extend that association for another two seasons under the new agreement.
The deal is also significant for Nivia, as it overcame competition from two international brands to retain its place in India’s top-flight football competition.
Also Read: ISL receives only one bid for next four-season media rights cycle
ISL clubs continue commercial push ahead of new season
The 2026-27 season will mark the beginning of a very different commercial structure for the ISL.
Following FSDL’s exit, the participating clubs will collectively oversee the league’s commercial and operational responsibilities, while the AIFF will continue to handle sporting and regulatory matters.
Securing the EA Sports, Sportradar and now Nivia agreements gives the clubs some early commercial stability as they continue working on other major revenue streams ahead of the new campaign.
The 2026-27 ISL season is expected to kick off in early October, with clubs continuing their preparations both on and off the pitch for the league’s new club-led era.
What is the new Nivia Sports and ISL deal?
Nivia Sports and the Indian Super League have signed a new two-year partnership starting from the 2026-27 season.
What is Nivia’s role in the ISL?
Nivia will continue as the official ball partner of the ISL and will supply match balls to the league and all 14 participating clubs.
Will Nivia provide equipment beyond match balls?
Yes. The agreement also covers referee kits and kits for the ISL’s central team.
Did Nivia face competition for the ISL partnership?
Yes. Nivia beat competition from two foreign sports brands to continue its association with the league.
Since when has Nivia been the ISL’s ball partner?
Nivia has served as the ISL’s official ball partner since the 2018-19 season.
Is this Nivia’s first partnership under the new club-led ISL model?
The new agreement is the third major commercial partnership secured by the ISL clubs since taking over the league’s commercial and operational responsibilities following FSDL’s exit from its Master Rights Agreement with the AIFF.
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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.