May 21: The Indian Super League (ISL) 2025–26 has reached its final date. Unlike previous seasons, this campaign began after months of trouble and uncertainty, resulting in a delay of almost five months. With a shorter format compared to other seasons, there are no semi-finals, finals, or double-legged ties.
A total of 14 teams participated, playing against each other in a league format, and the team with the highest number of points at the end of the season will be crowned champions of the league.
From February 14, it kicked off, and on May 21, with four massive fixtures — Mohun Bagan Super Giant vs Sporting Club Delhi, Inter Kashi vs East Bengal FC, Punjab FC vs Mumbai City FC, and Jamshedpur FC vs Odisha FC, the title will be decided. So basically, it’s not an ordinary Thursday, it’s a thrilling league title decider day.
Within a span of three months, India’s top-tier league is yet to get a tender or commercial partners. As meetings in the boardroom continue, no decision has been made yet. Amid the situation, before the league, many clubs like Kerala Blasters FC, Odisha FC, Chennaiyin FC, and Hyderabad FC went through changes, while Sporting Club Delhi entered the competition. Kolkata giants Mohammedan SC also suffered and were not prepared to play, but all of them still participated.
Investing on their own, the clubs agreed to kick off the campaign, and before the season ended, they raised their voices over the lack of communication from the federation. However, no results have come out yet.
Meanwhile, the final day arrived with five teams fighting for the title, while East Bengal FC are on the verge of making history, as they could win their top league title after 22 years. Meanwhile, their arch-rivals and defending champions, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, are breathing down their necks, trailing only on goal difference.
And now, coming to the ISL championship roadmap, with some stats.
East Bengal FC are on top with 23 points, while Mohun Bagan Super Giant are in second place with the same number of points. Punjab FC are fourth with 22 points, while Mumbai City FC are right behind them with the same points. The final contender, Jamshedpur FC, are in sixth place with 21 points.
Simply, East Bengal FC only need a win and do not depend on other results, as their goal difference makes them favourites. Mohun Bagan Super Giant need a win and also need East Bengal FC to drop points. If that does not happen, then based on the current goal difference, the Mariners need at least a seven-goal margin victory.
If both these teams drop points, then whoever wins between Punjab FC and Mumbai City FC will become champions. And if all four teams drop points while Jamshedpur FC win, then the Red Miners will be crowned champions. For that to happen, both Kolkata giants must lose all points.
Till now, 213 goals have been scored in 165 games. The 12th season of the league has also produced another record, as in the Kolkata Derby, East Bengal FC defeated Mohammedan SC by a 7–0 margin, something that had never happened before.
So far, Youssef Ezzejjari from East Bengal FC is leading the Golden Boot race with 10 goals, while Jamie Maclaren from Mohun Bagan Super Giant has 9. Both still have one more match to play. In golden glove race there is Hrithik Tiwari, Purba Lachenpa, Vishal Kaith, Prabsukhan Gill and Gurpreet Singh, with five clean sheet each. While except Hrithik and Gurpreet all have one more match.
Not only for the title, but also for survival and avoiding relegation, Sporting Club Delhi, Kerala Blasters FC, NorthEast United FC, Chennaiyin FC, Inter Kashi, Odisha FC, and Mohammedan SC gave their best throughout the campaign.
Meanwhile, after dramatically changing coaches midway through the season, Kerala Blasters FC, under Ashley Westwood, collected crucial points from their last five fixtures and finished on 17 points. Similarly, NorthEast United FC managed to reach 16 points. Amid both the title race and relegation battle, FC Goa and Bengaluru FC remained in the middle of the table.
As this season has relegation, Mohammedan SC have been relegated after struggling throughout the campaign. Meanwhile, from the Indian Football League, another Kolkata club, Diamond Harbour FC, have been promoted to the ISL after winning the league. Though the upcoming season is still building its graph.
This year, all the clubs struggled to build their squads, cut down salaries, and did not even have a proper pre-season because of the uncertainty surrounding the league. Still, they played for themselves, for their fans, and for the development of football in the nation.
After months of uncertainty, delays, and off-field struggles, the Indian Super League 2025–26 still displayed an unforgettable season as the clubs and all the players didn’t disappoint the spectators . From a historic title race and record-breaking derby results to relegation battles and new promotions, the league once again proved why Indian football continues to grow despite every challenge around it. Now, with the final whistle approaching and a new season already on the horizon, Indian football stands at another turning point, full of questions, rivalry, ambition, and hope.
Read more about Indian Football
