Indian Super League Missing from AIFF Calendar, Future Hangs in the Balance

Indian football has been thrown into uncertainty, with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) leaving the Indian Super League (ISL) out of its official calendar for the 2025–26 season. The omission has sparked widespread speculation over the league’s future, especially since its current governing agreement is nearing its expiry.

The ISL, launched in 2014 by Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), became India’s top-tier football competition in 2019. But the league's future now looks cloudy with its Master Rights Agreement (MRA) — the legal backbone of the competition — set to run out in December 2025. So far, there's no word on a renewal. Back in April, the AIFF’s Executive Committee set up an eight-member task force to figure out what comes next in the relationship between the AIFF and FSDL. However, no concrete outcome has emerged from those discussions, leaving clubs in the dark just months before the season is due to begin. 

That uncertainty is already starting to cause problems. Clubs are struggling to plan transfers or pre-season training without knowing when—or even if—the league will take place. Many are still waiting for clarity on dates, fixtures, and squad planning, which usually begins months in advance.  

Change in Indian Football Calendar 

Instead of kicking off the season with the ISL, the 2025–26 calendar will now begin with the historic Durand Cup. The Super Cup, which used to wrap up the campaign after the ISL, will now follow the Durand Cup, further suggesting a reshuffle in India’s football structure. The changes are, in part, a response to dwindling fan interest and clubs not taking the Super Cup seriously. Over the past few years, several sides have fielded second-string or youth teams in the tournament, treating it as more of a warm-up than a priority. 

The ISL’s problems don’t stop there. According to a report in The Times of India, FSDL—jointly owned by Reliance and Star—signed a 15-year deal with the AIFF in 2010. That deal includes an annual payout of either ₹50 crore or 20% of revenue, whichever is greater. But with the contract set to end this December, a new agreement must be reached soon if the ISL is to continue. 

FSDL is also believed to have lost over ₹5,000 crore since the league's inception due to the high cost of operations. Without a financially sustainable model that satisfies both the AIFF and FSDL, the league could be staring at a massive shake-up—or worse. For now, all eyes are on the negotiating table. Whether the ISL returns to the calendar depends on what kind of deal, if any, is struck between Indian football’s major stakeholders in the months ahead. 

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