Following weeks of uncertainty, Indian football has received a significant boost with the official schedule announcement for the 2025-26 Indian Super League (ISL) season. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) had been locked in a stand-off with ISL clubs due to the lack of a primary commercial partner, which led to the league missing its customary September-October kick-off window.
On Tuesday, January 6, Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya declared that the deadlock had been resolved, clearing the way for both the ISL campaign and the second-tier I-League tournament. The upcoming ISL season will feature a total of 91 matches, while the I-League has been trimmed down to 55 matches. Notably, the AIFF is yet to secure a commercial partner for this ISL season and will be funding the competition with its own resources until a sponsor is onboarded.
Ten ISL clubs have readily confirmed their participation in the 2025-26 season, while four others have requested a 24-hour window to reassess their stance amid the latest developments. The Sports Ministry, however, remains quietly confident that these four clubs will also commit to the entire season.
“A central pool of Rs 25 crore has been earmarked exclusively for the smooth conduct of the ISL,” stated AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey. “Ten percent of this fund will be contributed by the AIFF, and 30 percent will come from a commercial partner. But given the current absence of a partner, the AIFF will cover that 30 percent share as well.”
He added, “In total, the AIFF will inject Rs 14 crore into the ISL and approximately Rs 3.2 crore into the I-League until we secure a commercial sponsor.”
The detailed fixture lists for both the ISL and I-League are expected to be released in the near future.
