New Delhi, India (UNA) :
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has proposed two distinct short-term formats for the 2025-26 Indian Super League (ISL) season during recent meetings with club representatives. These proposals come as a response to the prolonged uncertainty surrounding the league, which was originally scheduled to begin in October but has been delayed due to the expiration of the previous commercial agreement with FSDL. The federation’s priority is to initiate a "survival season" to maintain visibility and fulfill constitutional requirements.
The first proposal suggests a conference-based structure, dividing the 14 teams into East and West conferences of seven teams each. In this model, teams would play double-leg matches within their respective conferences at two centralized venues to minimize travel costs. The top four teams from each conference would then advance to a single-leg championship playoff, while the bottom three would compete to avoid relegation. The second option is a simplified single-leg league format where all 14 teams play each other once in a randomized home-and-away schedule. Under this model, there would be no playoffs, and the team finishing at the top of the table after 13 matches would be crowned champion.
Despite these concrete format options, ISL clubs have expressed significant concerns regarding the lack of clarity on commercial and operational details. Specifically, officials have pointed out the absence of a budgetary framework, a confirmed broadcast partner, and a roadmap for revenue distribution. Some clubs have even requested their players to consider salary cuts to manage the financial strain of maintaining squads during the extended off-season. The uncertainty has already led to reports of player exits and concerns over the long-term stability of the Indian football ecosystem.
In addition to the short-term fix, the AIFF has also floated a long-term roadmap that proposes the federation "own and operate" the league for the next 20 years to align with Supreme Court-directed constitutional norms. This long-term plan suggests a hybrid model starting from the 2026-27 cycle, which would include promotion and relegation to satisfy AFC regulations. For now, all eyes are on a final stakeholders' meeting scheduled for December 29 in the capital, where a definitive decision on the 2025-26 season’s format and start date tentatively suggested for early February 2026 is expected to be reached.
