# IFL 2026-27 Season Confirmed to Start on October 30

URL: https://technosports.co.in/ifl-2026-27-season-confirmed-start-october-30/  
Published: 2026-09-10  
Updated: 2026-09-10  
Author: Rahul Roy

IFL 2026-27 Season: The Indian Football League has officially locked in its 2026-27 start date. Following a Governing Council meeting at the Football House in New Delhi, the season — the league’s second under the IFL name — will kick off on **October 30, 2026**, with representatives from all 11 clubs and AIFF officials in attendance.

## Full Home-and-Away Format This Time

Unlike last season’s truncated campaign, 2026-27 will feature a complete home-and-away format. The league is also expanding geographically, with **Nagaland and Odisha** approved as new venues.

## Key Changes to Note

A new foreign player rule has also been approved — teams can field a **maximum of three foreign players** on the pitch at any given time.

Delhi FC and Bengaluru United have earned promotion into the league, while Mohammedan SC join after relegation from the ISL. Notably, defending champions **Diamond Harbour FC** will not retain their promoted ISL slot after missing the administrative fee deadline, and will be placed bottom of the table by default.

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## IFL 2026-27 Season: Quick Facts

| Detail | Information |
| --- | --- |
| Start Date | October 30, 2026 |
| Total Teams | 11 |
| Format | Full home-and-away |
| New Venues | Nagaland, Odisha |
| Foreign Player Rule | Max 3 on pitch |
| Broadcast Talks | Prasar Bharati (CEO Gaurav Dwivedi) |

## Growing Viewership Momentum

The league also recorded a major viewership boost last season — up **4x** compared to the previous campaign — a trend organizers hope will continue as broadcast discussions with Prasar Bharati progress.

For more Indian football coverage, check out TechnoSports’ [Football section](https://technosports.co.in/category/football/).