'Football is making excellent progress': Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya opens up ISL’s return

The Sports Minister was quoted speaking on rise of new clubs as Jamshedpur FC announce exit from the ISL.

The 2026-27 season of Indian football has finally kicked off with the Durand Cup 2026 on 25th July when the two Kolkata giants, Mohun Bagan SG and East Bengal FC took on each other in a Kolkata Derby, making it the first one of the 2026-27 season.

However, there are still multiple questions around the Indian Super League (ISL), Indian Women’s League (IWL) and even Indian football in general. ISL club Jamshedpur FC have already decided to shut operations and exit despite the Sports Ministry intervening and making the ISL Club led model in place.

Speaking to ANI, during the 85th edition of Fit India in Hanol village, Gujarat, Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya talked about multiple sports in India with the recently concluded Commonwealth Games and the upcoming edition. He was asked during this event regarding the situation of Indian football especially Jamshedpur FC’s exit and how the government can help Indian football.

In this article, we take a look at what the Union Sports Minister said regarding Indian football.

Mansukh Mandaviya on the growth of Indian football

The Union Sports Minister, Mansukh Mandaviya, during the event was asked a rather tough question when he was asked to share his views on Indian football, especially on Jamshedpur FC’s exit and how the government can help the sport grow.

Addressing this, Mansukh Mandaviya stuck on an optimistic note, towards the return of the full season of the Indian Super League (ISL) and the emergency of new football clubs as a sign of the sport growing in India. However, how much of this actually gives us a detailed picture of the current situation Indian football is in, especially with Jamshedpur FC’s exit and IFL clubs reportedly looking to sell their licenses is still unknown.

The Union Sports Minister said, “Football is making excellent progress. The ISL will be hosted again, and new football clubs are being formed.”

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.