The latest Indian Super League season will feature 13 teams playing 163 football matches, including playoff fixtures, over eight months.
The 2026-27 season of the Indian Super League (ISL) is set to commence on October 10 and will continue until the following May, reverting to a traditional home-and-away format under a new club-led framework.
This forthcoming season will encompass 163 matches over a span of eight months, featuring 13 teams that are currently confirmed to participate in the league, as stated in an announcement by the ISL, which was reported by ESPN.
Throughout the league stage, clubs will compete against each other twice, once at their home ground and once away. The team that finishes at the top of the standings will be recognised as the Shield Winners and will be officially acknowledged as the ISL champions. Additionally, the league champion will earn a spot in the Asian club competition.
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The playoff format will also make a return this season, with the top six teams from the league phase advancing to the knockout rounds. The ultimate winner of the playoffs will be designated as the ISL Cup Champion.
The teams participating in this season include 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.
However, Diamond Harbour FC, which achieved promotion by winning the 2025-26 Indian Football League title, will not be competing in the ISL this season due to their inability to fulfill the administrative fee requirement.
A total of 163 matches, which includes playoff fixtures, will be conducted over an eight-month season. The new season will feature 13 teams, although the participation of Churchill Brothers is still pending regulatory approvals.
The clubs participating in this season are East Bengal, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Bengaluru FC, Kerala Blasters, FC Goa, Mumbai City FC, NorthEast United FC, Odisha FC, Punjab FC, Inter Kashi FC, Chennaiyin FC, Churchill Brothers FC, and Sporting Club Delhi.
Diamond Harbour FC, which secured promotion to the ISL by winning the Indian Football League 2025-26 title, has not fulfilled the administrative requirements for the upcoming season and will therefore not occupy its promoted position.
Consequently, they will automatically be placed at the bottom of the table and relegated to the Indian Football League for the 2027-28 season.
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