Kolkata, July 8: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) held a meeting with the club officials on Wednesday for the new season of the Indian Super League. After a shorter format and after so many issues, the previous year’s ISL was held somehow. Since then, the clubs have been growing furious over the lack of a permanent commercial partner, though the solution is yet to come. To find a solution to all these issues, the AIFF and the clubs emphasised working together to make the ISL one of the strongest leagues in Asia.
With the presence of M. Satyanarayan, Deputy Secretary General of the AIFF, Akshay Rohatgi, Head of Competitions, AIFF, Ravi Puskur, CEO of FC Goa, Mandar Tamhane, CEO of NorthEast United FC, and Dhruv Sood, CEO of Sporting Club Delhi, officials representing both the AIFF and the ISL Managing Committee announced the league’s new commercial structure and provided key updates on the 2026-27 season. The meeting focused on the future of the Indian Super League, with both sides discussing long-term commercial sustainability, the return of a full home-and-away format, and a joint commitment to work together to make it bigger.
What seems the purpose of the AIDD & ISL Clubs meeting is :
- To announce the new club-led commercial structure for the Indian Super League.
- To define the roles of the AIFF and the clubs under the new model.
- To discuss the roadmap for the 2026-27 ISL season.
- To confirm the return of a full home-and-away league format.
- To outline the process of appointing a new broadcast partner and securing sponsorships.
- To ensure the league calendar aligns with FIFA international windows and AFC club competitions.
- To strengthen cooperation between the AIFF and clubs for the long-term growth and sustainability of the ISL.
And Important takeaways are, key outcomes of the meeting:
Key Decisions Taken:
- Clubs will hold the ISL’s commercial rights.
- AIFF will retain administrative and operational oversight.
- The league will follow a club-led commercial model.
Plans for the 2026-27 Season:
- Full home-and-away format.
- AIFF will seek confirmation from all 14 clubs.
- Request For Proposal (RFP) will be issued to appoint a new broadcast partner and attract sponsors.
League Calendar:
- The schedule will be planned around FIFA international windows.
- It will also consider AFC club competitions, benefiting clubs like FC Goa and East Bengal FC.
National Team Discussion:
- AIFF requested clubs to release players for longer periods in the national interest.
- Officials expressed confidence that clubs would cooperate under the new joint model.
These are all the highlights that came out of the exclusive meeting between the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and the club officials, held in New Delhi today. The officials came together to find solutions to the issues that have affected the league over time, including the absence of a permanent commercial partner and the truncated format of the previous season. As a result, India’s top-tier league has managed to continue, but Indian football has suffered both nationally and internationally.
With the 2026-27 season set to kick off in October, both the federation and the clubs’ representatives have reached a mutual understanding to give the league the healthy start that the nation’s top-tier competition deserves. However, how and when these plans will be implemented remains to be seen, as boardroom discussions are still ongoing.
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