ISL 2026-27 returns to home-and-away format under new club-led model

The 2026-27 Indian Super League (ISL) season was scheduled to open on 10 October, with the competition returning to a traditional home-and-away round-robin format. According to The Tribune and ETV Bharat, the season will run for eight months, until May 2027, and will comprise 163 matches involving 13 teams.

The league made the announcement on 5 September in an official statement, as reported by ESPN and the news agency ANI and carried by The Tribune. The season is the first to be run under what the league calls a “club-led model”, which gives the participating clubs a larger say in how the competition is governed. ETV Bharat reported that league organisers expressed hope that the arrangement would create a “more stable environment” for Indian football and open up more opportunities for young local players.

The structure of the season has also changed in how honours are awarded. The team that finishes top of the league table will be named the Shield winner and will be recognised as the official ISL champion. The Tribune reported that the Shield winner earns a place in Asian competition, while ETV Bharat specified that this means direct qualification for the AFC Champions League Elite 2. The playoff format returns as well, with the top six teams competing for the ISL Cup.

The 13 clubs listed for the season are Bengaluru FC, Chennaiyin FC, Churchill Brothers FC, East Bengal FC, FC Goa, Inter Kashi FC, Kerala Blasters FC, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Mumbai City FC, NorthEast United FC, Odisha FC, Punjab FC and Sporting Club Delhi. The Tribune noted that the place of Churchill Brothers FC was subject to regulatory approval at the time of the announcement.

One notable absence is Diamond Harbour FC. The club won the 2025-26 Indian Football League and earned promotion, but it will not take part in the ISL this season because it did not meet the administrative fee requirement attached to its promoted slot. According to the league statement quoted by The Tribune, the club will earn no points, will be placed at the bottom of the table by default, and will compete in the Indian Football League in 2027-28 rather than the ISL. ETV Bharat reported that there will be no relegation this season.

Neither report named the opening fixture in its coverage of the announcement, and the final fixture list should be checked on the league’s official website. For supporters who follow the sport mainly through television and streaming, the longer calendar and the return of the playoffs point to an extended season. How the club-led model performs in practice, including whether it delivers the stability organisers have spoken about, will become clearer as the season unfolds.