The Indian Super League (ISL) will be started a little later than expected with the competition to be held on October 6. The 2026 season was supposed to kick off on September 4 but the tournament has been delayed by more than a month as Indian football authorities work around the FIFA international window and finalise arrangements for the new campaign.
According to a senior official of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), the league will begin after the FIFA international window from September 21 to October 6. We haven’t announced the exact opening date but we’re sure the dates will be made soon. The postponement will give clubs time to get ready for the campaign and the organisers can start commercial and scheduling discussions before the competition.
“The ISL is likely to start only in October after the FIFA window so we know the timetable of the competition," the AIFF's top official said. The league will also go with 13 teams instead of 14 teams which had been expected to participate.
The reduction in the number of teams follows the failure of the Indian Football League 2025-26 champions Diamond Harbour FC to pay the second instalment of their participation fee within the extended deadline. The club had been promoted to the ISL after winning the 2025-26 Indian Football League and was expected to make its debut in the country's top-tier competition.
To the AIFF, all the participants were to pay a total participation fee of Rs 1.1 crore. The first instalment of Rs 55 lakh was followed by the second of the same amount. The deadline for the second payment was August 14, and Diamond Harbour FC received an extension until Wednesday. The club is not able to pay the required amount and won't be part of the ISL this year.
The decision leaves the league with 13 teams and gives the organisers greater clarity in their fixture planning. The AIFF stated that the final number of clubs is the most important step to prepare the commercial framework and schedule for the season.
“We’re pleased to get the number of teams locked in for the season. That now allows us to move forward with essential commercial discussions and fixture planning for the league,” the club said in a statement on its website.
The composition of the ISL has also undergone a significant change because Jamshedpur FC has bowed out from the competition. Jamshedpur FC withdrew from the ISL and disbanded its first team on July 31, just hours after the deadline for the first Rs 55 lakh instalment of the participation fee.
Churchill Brothers secured its place in the competition after purchasing Jamshedpur FC's entire stake. The Goan club paid the full Rs 1.1 crore participation fee on August 14 and ensured that it will be included in the upcoming ISL campaign.
Churchill Brothers’ entry into the competition is another important contribution to Goa football and a new club in the ISL’s growing list of participants. The club is associated with Indian football and has already competed at the national level, so the return to the top level of the game is very important.
Diamond Harbour FC’s failure to complete the payment, however, is a big blow after all these great achievements. Winning the Indian Football League 2025-26 gave the club a chance to compete with some of India’s most established professional football teams. With no one reaching the financial deadline, that opportunity will not be there in the next season.
The delayed start also equips clubs with a little more time to prepare for that game. Teams can do squad building and tactical work in the extended period and make sure their players will be ready for a tough campaign. The FIFA international window (September 21 to October 6) is the reason behind the change in the schedule in the domestic league so there won’t be a start or a major fixture jam during the international period.
People will now have to wait for ISL action to come back much longer. The competition has become one of the most respected and popular sporting properties in Indian football and has attracted experienced clubs, international players and a new TV and digital audience. The final schedule will give an indication of when the first match of the season will take place and how the 13 teams will be organised.
Now that the participation list is settled, the focus is moving on to the fixtures announcement, preparation of squad and commercial strategy for the upcoming season. A delayed October start may mark the start of a new chapter for the ISL, especially for the clubs like Churchill Brothers, the departure of Jamshedpur FC and the absence of promoted Diamond Harbour FC.
As Indian football gears up for another ISL season, we expect the coming weeks to be key for clubs and tournament organisers. Once the fixtures are officially released, fans will know when the 2026 campaign will begin and what the 13-team league will look like.
