Will Churchill Brothers SC play in ISL 2026-27?
Tata Steel transferred their ownership and ISL club licensing of Jamshedpur FC to Churchill Brothers.
Two-time I League champions, three-time Durand Cup champions and one of the most successful sides from Goa, Churchill Brothers, ever since finishing atop the I League points table in the 2024-25 season, before Inter Kashi were declared the champion, have been pushing harder for a coveted spot in the Indian Super League.
Two weeks ago, Jamshedpur FC announced their withdrawal from the Indian Super League. This decision took the entire Indian football fraternity by storm, and there have been major speculations over who can replace the Steel City-based franchise in the Indian top flight.
In a recent development, Tata Steel transferred the ownership of Jamshedpur Football and Sporting Private Limited to Churchill Brothers FC.
Churchill Brothers will take over the contracts of all JFC players and coaching staff with effect from September 2026. With Churchill Brothers acquiring Tata Steel’s entire 100% stake, JFC’s license to play in the ISL, along with the contracts of 12 players and 2 coaches, has also been transferred to the Goan outfit.
In this article, we take a closer look at whether Churchill Brothers will play in the upcoming season of the Indian Super League.
Churchill Brother’s complicated history with Indian football
A historically significant club from Goa, Churchill Brothers have won the I League twice in 2008-09 and the 2012-13 season.
In the 2024-25 season, the Goan outfit finished atop the I League points table with 40 points and were initially declared I League champions and were handed the coveted silverware by AIFF.
However, after Inter Kashi’s CAS appeal was successful, the Varanasi outfit became the champions of I League and was promoted to the Indian Super League.
As a sign of protest, the Goan outfit did not participate in the second-tier national league and was further relegated to the third division.
This is not the first time. Even in the 2013-14 season, Churchill were denied an I League license because of AFC club licensing requirements. Now, after Churchill acquired JFC’s 100% stake, they now control the corporate entity behind an existing ISL club and is all set to play in ISL 2026-27 season.
Goan derby in ISL for first time
Ever since the inception of the Indian Super League, FC Goa have been the sole representative of the smallest state of India in the Indian top flight. The Gaurs have even competed and represented India at the AFC Champions League and ACL 2 and have previously won the ISL Shield and the Super Cup.
With Churchill’s entry in to the ISL, we can expect a new chapter in the Goan rivalry where two clubs from the region are set to face off against each other in what is set to be a mouth watering clash.
With Churchill Brothers playing in the ISL, it will be interesting to see how they shape their squad, with key JFC players like Madih Talal and Stephen Eze having left the Tata outfit, and several Indian players, including Sanan and Barla are being linked to other ISL clubs.
Will Churchill Brothers play in ISL 2026-27?
Yes, Churchill Brothers are set to play in the ISL 2026-27 season after acquiring Tata Steel’s 100% stake in Jamshedpur Football and Sporting Private Limited.
Will Jamshedpur FC play in the ISL 2026-27 season?
Jamshedpur FC had earlier announced on July 31 that it would not participate in the ISL 2026-27 season. However, the players and coaches might be seen in action in and representing Churchill Brothers.
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In addition to writing articles on World and Indian Football, Saikat has also covered tournaments like the Durand Cup, Indian Super League, and Hockey India League. Notably, his exceptional communication skills have seen him interview legendary icons like Olympic 2024 gold medalist Yibbi Jansen, former Real Madrid player Javi Hernandez, and many more such sporting stalwarts.