The Indian Super League (ISL) 2026-27 season is now set to begin in October, a month later than originally planned. The league was initially scheduled to start on September 4 but will now kick off after the FIFA international window closes on October 6.
Diamond Harbour FC’s withdrawal has reduced the number of teams from 14 to 13. The club missed the deadline to pay the second installment of its participation fee, which was ₹55 lakh per installment. Churchill Brothers FC took over Jamshedpur FC and paid the full fee of ₹1.1 crore to join the league.
The AIFF clarified that their decision to withdraw from the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 was not due to financial penalties but rather to prioritize a friendly match against Brazil on October 3 in Kolkata. The AIFF described this as an “exceptional opportunity” for Indian football.
The federation also rejected claims of mismanagement, stating that discussions about finances should be based on facts. They warned that spreading incorrect information could harm India’s reputation and stressed their commitment to transparency.