I-League Set for New Format as Clubs Propose Name Change to Indian Football League

The I-League is poised for significant transformation as the All India Football Federation’s Executive Committee prepares to approve a revised competition format and governance structure for the 2025-26 season. Following a joint meeting between I-League clubs and AIFF officials on January 27, 2026, the federation has placed key decisions before its Executive Committee for urgent approval by January 31. Most notably, clubs have proposed rebranding the league from “I-League” to “Indian Football League,” marking a comprehensive refresh of India’s premier football competition. The proposed changes include a new two-stage format, club-led governance, and a February 21, 2026 season start date, representing the most significant structural overhaul of the I-League in recent years.

The Governance Shift: From Framework to Implementation

The AIFF has transitioned from proposing a participation framework to operationalizing it through formal ExCo approval. While the earlier framework outlined principles of operation, this new document focuses on specific governance composition, structural roles, and competitive format.

Without Executive Committee approval, none of these decisions can be formally implemented, making the January 31 deadline critical for allowing clubs to finalize budgets, plan logistics, and prepare for the upcoming season.

I-League Governing Council: Club-Led Decision Making

The revised governance structure establishes the I-League Governing Council as the league’s primary decision-making body, with clubs taking leadership roles.

This structure formally establishes clubs as primary decision-makers within the I-League’s top governance body. The club-led model reflects a fundamental shift from traditional AIFF-controlled governance toward a more democratic, stakeholder-driven approach. However, the absence of Aizwal FC, Churchill Brothers, and Chanmari FC from the January 27 meeting has raised concerns about their participation status.

Management Committee: Operational Control

The Management Committee handles day-to-day operational matters and implementation of Governing Council decisions.

This structure reinforces the earlier framework’s intent by allowing clubs to manage day-to-day operations while AIFF retains regulatory oversight without maintaining direct daily control. The separation of strategic governance (Governing Council) from operational execution (Management Committee) provides clear delineation of responsibilities.

Proposed Rebranding: I-League to Indian Football League

One of the most striking proposals is the clubs’ request to rebrand the league from “I-League” to “Indian Football League.” This proposal signals an attempt to reposition and refresh the league’s identity while achieving greater alignment with long-term commercial and branding ambitions. However, the name change remains only a proposal, subject to Executive Committee approval. The rebranding reflects clubs’ desires to establish a distinct identity from the ISL while emphasizing Indian football heritage and ownership.

New Two-Stage Competition Format

The clubs have proposed a new two-stage competition format for the 2025-26 season designed to maintain competitive relevance throughout the campaign.

This two-stage format introduces clarity to both title and survival battles while reducing the number of meaningless matches late in the season. The points carryover system maintains competitive balance while allowing teams in both championship and relegation contests to fight for their respective objectives. The structure differs significantly from traditional single-table formats and represents innovation in Indian football competition structure.

Urgent Timeline and Implementation Readiness

AIFF has requested Executive Committee approval by January 31, 2026, citing urgent operational needs. This tight timeline reflects how close the league is to execution mode and underscores the federation’s commitment to delivering timely, transparent governance. The deadline allows clubs sufficient time to finalize budgets, plan logistics, arrange schedules, and begin commercial and operational preparations for the February 21 season start.

Comparison with ISL Governance Model

The I-League’s proposed club-led governance model represents a stark contrast to the ISL, where governance remains far more centralized and approval-driven. The I-League’s approach emphasizes stakeholder empowerment and distributed decision-making, while the ISL maintains tighter AIFF and centralized control. This divergence demonstrates AIFF’s willingness to experiment with different governance models for India’s two top football leagues.

Club Participation Status

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