ISL 2026 Explained: How AIFF is planning to host it, venue, budget, possible dates & more

Indian football has finally received a big boost with the announcement of the return of the Indian Super League (ISL). The league, which had been on hold due to financial and administrative issues, will now begin on February 14, 2026, as confirmed by Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya in New Delhi on Tuesday.

The announcement brings an end to a crisis that had paralysed Indian football for several months, leaving players, clubs and fans worried about the future of the sport in the country.

The Indian Super League 2025-26 will begin on February 14, 2026.#ISL #IndianFootball ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/mhVNkT0YoF

— Indian Football (@IndianFootball) January 6, 2026

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Why was the ISL put on hold?

The ISL 2025-26 season was put on hold last year after the All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) commercial partner, Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), paused operations due to uncertainty over the Master Rights Agreement (MRA).

The tournament was supposed to start in September, but got delayed due to failed talks between AIFF and FSDL. Later, the AIFF floated a fresh tender to find a new commercial partner under the supervision of a Supreme Court-appointed committee.

However, no company came forward, and the previous MRA also officially ended on December 8, 2025. The Kalyan Chaubey-led AIFF was left embarrassed, highlighting the current state of Indian football.

Government steps in

With the situation worsening, the government stepped in. On Tuesday, Mandaviya confirmed that a meeting was held involving the government, AIFF, and all 14 ISL clubs, including Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, who had earlier opposed the financial model suggested by the federation.

“There was lot of speculation regarding ISL but today govt, football federation and 14 clubs, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal included had a meeting and we have decided that ISL will start February 14. All clubs will participate,” the minister said.

Format, matches and venues

The ISL 2026 will reportedly feature 91 matches on a home-and-away basis, though the final structure is still being discussed. The venues will also be decided later on.

“The 14 participating teams will compete in a single-leg round-robin format. Detailed fixtures will be released following further consultation with the clubs,” the AIFF said in a statement.

The I-League will also return around the same time, but in a truncated format with 55 matches involving 11 teams.

Budget and funding plan

For the conduct of ISL 2026, a Rs 25 crore central pool has been created. Chaubey said AIFF will contribute Rs 14 crore and around Rs 3.2 crore will be allocated for the I-League. The remaining funds will come from legacy participating clubs.

Since there is no commercial partner at the moment, AIFF will cover the share that was earlier expected from sponsors. The government has also assured support if required, Chaubey said.

Concerns and worries

One major concern raised by clubs is the sharp cut in broadcast and production costs. AIFF has set aside less than Rs 10 crore for production under the lower-cost model, compared to nearly Rs 70 crore spent in previous seasons.

There is also no confirmed broadcaster or clarity on revenue sharing, which has left clubs worried. Players are also expected to bear the burden, with lower salaries likely in the upcoming season.

Due to the delayed start, ISL clubs are unlikely to meet the 24-match requirement to qualify for the AFC Champions League 2. If the AIFF failes to obtain a permission from the AFC, it could cause more trouble to the clubs and players.