What to Expect from the Exciting 2026-27 Indian Super League Season?

The Indian Super League is gearing up for its 2026-27 season, starting on October 10. With a return to the home-and-away format and a new club-led structure, fans can expect an exciting campaign featuring 13 teams and 163 matches. The league will see the top teams vying for the Shield and Cup titles, while Diamond Harbour FC faces relegation. This season promises to enhance fan engagement and reshape the future of Indian football.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 5, 2026, 15:59 IST

Overview of the Upcoming ISL Season

New Delhi: The Indian Super League (ISL) is set to kick off its 2026-27 season on October 10, continuing until May of the following year. This season marks a return to the classic home-and-away format, now under a new structure led by the clubs themselves.

The league will span eight months and feature a total of 163 matches, with 13 teams confirmed to compete, as stated in a recent announcement by the ISL, which was covered by ESPN.

In the league phase, each team will face off against every other team twice—once at home and once away. The team that finishes at the top of the standings will be honored as the Shield Winners and recognized as the official ISL champions. Additionally, the league champion will earn a spot in the Asian club competition.

This season will also see the return of the playoff format, where the top six teams from the league phase will progress to the knockout rounds. The ultimate playoff victor will be crowned the ISL Cup Champion.

The teams participating this season include Bengaluru FC, Chennaiyin FC, Churchill Brothers FC, East Bengal FC, FC Goa, Inter Kashi FC, Kerala Blasters FC, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Mumbai City FC, NorthEast United FC, Odisha FC, Punjab FC, and Sporting Club Delhi.

Notably, Diamond Harbour FC, which earned promotion by clinching the 2025-26 Indian Football League title, will not be part of the ISL this season due to its inability to meet the administrative fee requirements.

As part of the league's promotion and relegation system, Diamond Harbour will be placed at the bottom of the standings and will not accumulate any points this season. Furthermore, the club will lose its ISL status for the 2027-28 season and will revert to the IFL, as per the announcement.

The upcoming season will be the first to operate under a new model that allows participating clubs to have a more significant influence on the league's direction and critical decisions.

The reintroduction of the home-and-away format is anticipated to provide clubs with more chances to engage with their local supporters and restore a familiar league structure for fans of Indian football.