AIFF Unveils 2025-26 Football Season Schedule Amid ISL Uncertainty
Overview of the 2025-26 Season Schedule
The All India Football Federation (AIFF), the governing body for football in India, has released the schedule for the 2025-26 season. Notably absent from this calendar is the Indian Super League (ISL), the premier men's football league in the country. Established in 2014 as a franchise-based league, the ISL gained top-tier status in 2019 and is currently in its 2020-21 season, managed by the Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL). The Master Rights Agreement (MRA) that underpins the league is set to expire in December 2022, and there has been no word on its renewal, leaving the future of the ISL in doubt.
AIFF Calendar for 2025-26 Season
| Event | Start Date | End Date |
| Junior Boys Tier 1 and Tier 2 | 10-07-2025 | 31-07-2025 |
| Junior Girls Tier 1 and Tier 2 | 10-07-2025 | 31-07-2025 |
| Durand Cup | 15-07-2025 | 23-08-2025 |
| Super Cup/Federation Cup | 01-09-2025 | 20-09-2025 |
| Sub-Junior Girls Tier 1 and Tier 2 | 10-08-2025 | 31-08-2025 |
| Senior Women’s Group Stage | 01-09-2025 | 20-09-2025 |
| AIFF Elite Youth League (U14/U16/U18) | 01-09-2025 | 31-05-2026 |
| Senior Women’s Final Round | 01-10-2025 | 15-10-2025 |
| I-League 3 | 01-10-2025 | 30-11-2025 |
| I-League | 19-10-2025 | 30-04-2026 |
| Indian Women’s League | 25-10-2025 | 30-04-2026 |
| Santosh Trophy Group Stage | 05-12-2025 | 20-12-2025 |
| Santosh Trophy Final Round | 01-01-2026 | 20-01-2026 |
| Indian Women’s League 2 | 25-01-2026 | 30-04-2026 |
| Beach Soccer Championship | 01-02-2026 | 15-02-2026 |
| Futsal Club Championship | 01-05-2026 | 20-05-2026 |
| Swami Vivekananda U-20 Championship | 01-04-2026 | 31-05-2026 |
Impact of AIFF-ISL Dispute on Club Transfers
The prolonged standoff between the AIFF and the ISL has created uncertainty regarding the start of the 2025-26 season, jeopardizing the transfer strategies of numerous clubs eager to finalize deals during the domestic transfer window. Recent updates from the AIFF indicate that the Durand Cup will kick off the senior men's season, followed by the Super Cup, rather than concluding the year with a final tournament. Factors such as low attendance at competitions and clubs opting to field reserve or youth teams have influenced this scheduling decision.