Indian football’s top tier is heading into fresh territory. The All India Football Federation has confirmed that 13 clubs will compete in the 2026-27 Indian Super League season, a reduction from the 14 that took part last term. With the league now running short of a team, the AIFF is widely expected to pause relegation for the upcoming campaign — a significant administrative decision that could shape the immediate future of the ISL.
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Why Has the ISL Dropped to 13 Teams?
Two clubs have exited the league heading into 2026-27, leaving the ISL with one fewer participant than in the previous season.
Jamshedpur FC — A Historic Exit
The departure of Jamshedpur FC was announced last month. The decision came from Jamshedpur Football and Sporting Private Limited, the Tata Steel-owned company that operates the club. Jamshedpur FC had been part of the ISL since entering the competition in 2017, making their withdrawal a notable change among the league’s established clubs.
Jamshedpur FC had pulled out of the ISL and disbanded the first team on July 31, hours after the deadline for paying the first instalment of the participation fee amounting to Rs 55 lakh.
In a surprising turn of events, the situation changed when Tata Steel agreed to transfer its entire stake in Jamshedpur Football and Sporting Private Limited (JFSPL) to Churchill Brothers Sports Club for a nominal ₹100. The transaction includes Jamshedpur FC’s ISL sporting licence. Churchill Brothers have also paid the complete ₹1.10 crore participation fee for the 2026-27 season. Their entry, however, remains subject to the required approvals for the ownership transfer.
Diamond Harbour FC — Promoted, Then Out
The biggest talking point was Diamond Harbour’s arrival in the top flight. Their promotion added another ambitious club to the competition, while Jamshedpur FC’s exit reduces the league to 13 teams for this season.
However, the development came after Diamond Harbour FC failed to complete their second participation fee payment by the final deadline given to them by the federation. The AIFF had given Diamond Harbour until 2 pm on August 19 to clear their pending ₹55 lakh payment. The club missed that deadline, meaning the ISL will proceed without them.
With their final deadline now expired, the league will move forward with 13 participating clubs. This also means no new team will be added to replace Diamond Harbour for the upcoming campaign.
Clubs In, Clubs Out — ISL 2026-27 Participation at a Glance
| Club | Status | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Jamshedpur FC | OUT | Withdrew after missing participation fee deadline |
| Diamond Harbour FC | OUT | Promoted but failed to pay participation fee |
| Churchill Brothers | LIKELY IN | Acquired Jamshedpur FC’s ISL licence for ₹100 |
| Mohammedan SC | RELEGATED | Finished last in ISL 2025-26 |
| All Other 12 Clubs | IN | Confirmed participation |
The Relegation Question
While promotion has been in place since the 2022–23 season, relegation has never been implemented since the league’s inception in 2014. That changed last season, when relegation was introduced for the first time in the ISL, where the bottom-ranked team would be relegated to the Indian Football League, while the champions of the IFL would be promoted to the top tier.
Now, with only 13 clubs confirmed for 2026-27, the AIFF is likely to pause relegation for one season. Relegating a team from a 13-club league — already reduced from 14 — could shrink the ISL further, making it structurally challenging. Until the league is back to a healthier number of clubs, pausing the drop mechanism is widely seen as the pragmatic route.
ISL 2026-27 — Format & Key Details
The tournament will be played in a double round-robin competition, that is, on a home-and-away basis, which was missing last season.
The new season is scheduled to begin on October 10, 2026, and will mark the start of the league’s new club-led model.
The AIFF announced the development on Wednesday, but did not specify when the new campaign will begin. The kick-off date will be communicated separately, while the complete fixture schedule and further details of the season are also expected in another announcement.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| League | Indian Super League (ISL) |
| Season | 2026-27 (Season 13) |
| Governing Body | AIFF |
| Number of Teams | 13 |
| Format | Double Round-Robin (Home & Away) |
| Likely Relegation Status | Paused for One Season |
| Tentative Start Date | October 10, 2026 |
| Previous Season Champions | East Bengal FC |
| Previous Season Relegated | Mohammedan SC |
| IFL Champions (Promoted) | Diamond Harbour FC (Failed to Participate) |
A New Commercial Era
On 8 July 2026, the AIFF and the ISL Managing Committee formally signed a four-year club-led agreement after resolving outstanding issues relating to independent auditing, profit-sharing and the termination clause. Under the agreement, clubs would hold the league’s commercial rights through a special purpose vehicle while the AIFF retained regulatory control.
Participation fees were fixed at ₹1.1 crore, ₹1.15 crore, ₹1.2 crore and ₹1.25 crore over four seasons, with promotion and relegation continuing and the league reverting to a full home-and-away format.
What Happened Last Season (ISL 2025-26)?
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Season | 2025-26 (Season 12) |
| Duration | February 14 – May 21, 2026 |
| Number of Teams | 14 |
| Champions | East Bengal FC (1st ISL Title) |
| Relegated Club | Mohammedan SC |
| Top Scorer | Youssef Ezzejjari (11 Goals) |
| Best Player | Miguel Figueira |
| Best Goalkeeper | Hrithik Tiwari (5 Clean Sheets) |
| Highest Attendance | 62,201 (Mohun Bagan vs East Bengal) |
Read More: Zee & Sony Sports in Direct Talks With ISL Clubs Over Media Rights for 2026-27 Season
FAQs
Why has the ISL been reduced to 13 teams for 2026-27?
Two clubs have exited the league. Jamshedpur FC withdrew after failing to pay the participation fee, and Diamond Harbour FC — despite winning promotion from the Indian Football League — also failed to make the required participation fee payment, leaving the ISL with 13 confirmed clubs.
Why is the AIFF likely to pause relegation for ISL 2026-27?
With the league already reduced to 13 clubs from 14, further relegating a team would shrink the ISL to 12 clubs. Pausing relegation for one season allows the league to stabilise its numbers before the mechanism is applied again in future seasons.
What format will ISL 2026-27 follow?
ISL 2026-27 will be played in a double round-robin (home-and-away) format, restoring the traditional structure that was absent in the truncated 2025-26 season, where each team played just 13 matches.
What happened to Jamshedpur FC’s ISL licence?
Tata Steel transferred its entire stake in Jamshedpur Football and Sporting Private Limited to Churchill Brothers Sports Club for a nominal ₹100, including the ISL sporting licence. Churchill Brothers have paid the full participation fee, though their entry remains subject to formal approval.
When will ISL 2026-27 begin?
The ISL 2026-27 season is tentatively scheduled to begin on October 10, 2026. The AIFF has stated that the complete fixture schedule and further details will be announced separately.
