The IFL is set to enter a new season with renewed hope, but recent controversies continue to raise questions about Indian football’s future.
Kolkata, September 12: The Governing Council of the Indian Football League confirmed that the new season 2026-27 is set to commence on 30 October. The Governing Council and the AIFF reviewed the 2025-26 season, including the viewership figures and overall broadcast performance and found it hugely encouraging. On September 8th, the Governing Council met the football house and the representatives of all participating clubs in attendance and introduced a new rule, from this season onwards: only three foreign players will be allowed on the pitch at a time.
The council also welcomed Nagaland and Odisha as new venues.
This season, Kolkata giant Mohammedan SC will compete in the league after being relegated from ISL, along with 10 other teams: Bengaluru United, Chanmari, Dempo, Gokulam Kerala, Nagaland United, Rajasthan United, Real Kashmir, Samaleswari, Shillong Lajong, Sreenidi Deccan.
The Indian Football League has faced trouble on and off the field, from facing problems with the championship to disorder in regulations and discrepancies; the IFL remained under the scanner. Consecutively in two seasons, the championship faced troubles, putting question on Indian football system.
What happened in the 2024-25 season?
In the 2024-25 season, Inter Kashi were crowned I-League champions after a landmark legal victory at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The dispute centred on foreign player Marco Barco’s eligibility, with the AIFF ruling in May 2025 that Inter Kashi forfeit every match he played. The decision dropped them to second, handing Churchill Brothers the top spot. Inter Kashi appealed to CAS, which overturned the AIFF ruling following a July hearing, restoring their results and confirming them as champions with 42 points, two ahead of Churchill Brothers. It was their second CAS victory in a month, following another successful appeal against Namdhari FC.
Diamond Harbour, the 2025-26 winner, will not play in ISL
The previous season’s winner of IFL, Diamond Harbour, was meant to play in the Indian Super League, but internal problems between the club and the management stopped the process, and they failed to pay the ISL entry fee of 55 lakhs within the scheduled time. As per the new guidelines of the AIFF, the club will be relegated to the IFL and will have to start from zero in the 2027-28 season.
A club that successfully overcame numerous hurdles to play in the top-tier league has now faced a harsh reality: they were unable to compete. Viewership for football in India has the potential to increase fourfold, yet the sport is encountering significant backlash. Teams like Jamshedpur FC and Diamond Harbour FC have inspired many players to pursue their passion for the game, with some dreaming of representing these clubs. However, the discontinuation of certain teams only brings heartbreak to those aspiring athletes.
As the I-League enters its second season with a new identity, it is filled with high hopes, and the heart of Indian football should feel the excitement once again.
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