 "Kerala Blasters remain cautious despite confirming ISL 2025-26 participation: 'Blasters will always prioritise...'")
Kerala Blasters became the latest Indian Super League club to confirm their participation in the 12th season of the Indian Super League that gets underway next month. The Kochi-based club released a statement on Wednesday which stated that they had arrived at the decision after extensive discussions with the All India Football Federation and other stakeholders, and thanked Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya for his role in breaking the deadlock.
“The Club confirms its participation in the upcoming Indian Super League which is slated to kickoff in February, 2026. This decision has been taken after extensive discussions with the All India Football Federation and associated stakeholders. The Club thanks the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the Hon. Sports Minister for the intervention and mediation in this matter,” read a statement from the club that had finished eighth on the table in the previous season.
Blasters remain cautious despite ISL confirmation
The three-time ISL Cup runners-up’s confirmation comes two days after a similar announcement from Odisha FC. And while the restart of the top-flight competition certainly is good news for Indian football, the Blasters remained cautious about the future, adding that several questions still needed to be addressed.
“We know that there will be numerous questions, concerns, and we are in the process of addressing and gaining clarity on several of these issues ourselves. Indian football is undergoing a radical metamorphosis and will be subject to new economic, regulatory and sporting realities. The Blasters, will always prioritise to safeguard our present and work collaboratively with all the stakeholders to protect the future.
“The Club shall release further information in a coordinated manner through appropriate channels very shortly, once we have cemented our approach and once we have received clarity on certain issues at hand. We request for your support as always and for your continued patience and understanding,” the club added in its statement.
An update from #TheBlasters.#KeralaBlasters #KBFC #YennumYellow pic.twitter.com/W9HALXhEnO
— Kerala Blasters FC (@KeralaBlasters) January 14, 2026
Mandaviya had last week set 14 February as the date for the 12th ISL season to get underway. AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey, who was seated alongside the Union Minister during the announcement, further revealed that the season will comprise 91 matches played on a home-and-away basis.
The governing body for the sport in India added that a truncated season of the second-tier I-League comprising 55 matches will be taking place around the same time.
The 12th ISL season will be going ahead despite AIFF failing to zero in on a new commercial partner after parting ways with Football Sports Development Limited – with whom they had signed a 15-year Master Rights Agreement that had expired on 8 December.
As a result, the ISL ’legacy clubs’ will have to finance 60 per cent of the Rs 24.26 crore budget that has been set aside for the 12th ISL season.
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