The Indian Super League, which is the biggest tournament in Indian football, is set to make a comeback after facing multiple dilemmas in the off-season. The tournament will witness the participation of all top Indian players and the highly expected foreign talents, as they together elevate the standard of the game in the country.
Traditionally, the league takes place between September and April, but the 2025-26 season was put on hold due to various issues. However, the tentative ISL starting date is now public, and the fans will be looking forward to another exciting season.
Let’s explore deep into the prestigious tournament, which is heading into its 12th season and fourth as a top division in Indian football.
ISL History
ISL was officially launched on October 21, 2013, by IMG–Reliance, Star Sports, and the AIFF. In April 2014, Bangalore, Delhi, Goa, Guwahati, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Pune were announced as the winning bidders. Sachin Tendulkar won the bid for the Kochi franchise, while Sourav Ganguly secured the ownership of the Kolkata franchise.
Abhishek Bachchan and MS Dhoni became the co-owners of the Chennai-based franchise after Bangalore’s owners dropped out. Meanwhile, John Abraham, Ranbir Kapoor, Salman Khan, and Virat Kohli won the bids for the Guwahati, Mumbai, Pune, and Goa franchises, respectively.
The inaugural season began on October 12, 2014, at the Salt Lake Stadium, which saw Kolkata defeat Mumbai 3-0.
In September 2017, it was announced that the ISL will be extended from three to five months. The games also went from being played daily to being played between Wednesday and Sunday.
Due to strong television ratings, interesting pre-match and post-match shows, and better commentary, ISL became the top-tier football league in India from the 2022-23 season. The I-League was demoted to the second tier.
Two historic clubs – Mohun Bagan and East Bengal joined the ISL from the 2020-21 seasons, which helped the league to further grow in stature. Punjab FC, Mohammedan SC, and Inter Kashi made their debut in 2023, 2024, and 2025 (upcoming), respectively, from the I-League.
However, with the promotion and relegation system in action from the 2025-26 season, the governing council has laid a perfect roadmap for rewarding the performance of the teams in both ISL and I-League.
ISL has significantly helped in the growth of Indian football with improved stadiums and better training facilities. It provided a platform for the young players to showcase their talent and rub shoulders with experienced players.
ISL Starting Date
ISL 2025 is set to take place from December, as per a proposal submitted by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) to the Supreme Court in August. Notably, FSDL is ISL’s commercial partner. The official schedule is yet to be finalized by the AIFF’s governing council.
AIFF had signed a Master Rights Agreement (MRA) with FSDL for 15 years from 2010 to 2025. However, as the agreement is ending on December 8, FSDL has put on hold the tournament due to a lack of clarity on the way forward.
However, AIFF launched a Request For Proposal (RFP) for ISL’s commercial rights for 15 years in October. The 15-year roadmap defines the sponsorship, broadcast, digital monetization, merchandising, and data rights of the league.
The move came after many ISL teams wrote a letter and accused the AIFF of hampering their trust and delaying commitments. Some of them had planned campaigns and had secured the signing of a few players, but no clarity regarding the ISL starting date forced them to seek answers. However, with the tender process active, the teams would have breathed a sigh of relief.
In order to keep the players competitive, the Super Cup will kick off the 2025-26 season on October 25. The tournament will help the players remain in shape and get much-needed action under their belt.
ISL Teams
There are a total of 14 teams participating in ISL 2025. Namely, they are Mohun Bagan Super Giant, East Bengal FC, Mumbai City FC, Kerala Blasters FC, Bengaluru FC, Chennaiyin FC, FC Goa, Odisha FC, Jamshedpur FC, NorthEast United FC, Punjab FC, Mohammedan SC, Inter Kashi FC, and Sporting Club Delhi.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant: One of Asia’s oldest clubs has been the joint-most successful sides in the ISL. The Super Giant has emerged as the winner in the last two seasons and will look to achieve a historic three-peat in the upcoming season. Interestingly, they made their debut only in the 2020-21 season, which speaks volumes about their dominance.
East Bengal FC: Debuting in the tournament in the 2020-21 season, East Bengal FC has not lived up to its standards. The underperformance was evident in the 2024-25 season, when they finished ninth in the ISL points table.
Mumbai City FC: The Mumbai-based franchise have won the title twice (2020-21 and 2022-23) and is at the top of the ISL winners list. The 2025 season will give them an opportunity to create history by becoming the first active team to win the ISL title thrice. Previously, ATK has won the title on three occasions.
Kerala Blasters FC: One of the most popular clubs in the league has, unfortunately, not won the title so far. They came close to winning the championship in the 2021-22 season, when they emerged as the runner-up. The Kochi-based team finished eighth in the last season and would look to come up with a better performance in the next iteration.
Bengaluru FC: Making their debut in 2017-18, the Bengaluru-based outfit ended up as the runners-up. However, they calmed their nerves to win their maiden and only title in the subsequent season. They finished third in the 2024-25 season and are expected to do well in the upcoming iteration.
Chennaiyin FC: One of the founding members of the league, Chennaiyin FC have won the ISL Cup twice: 2015 and 2017-18. The last season witnessed them finish 11th in the table, and they will be motivated to turn back the clock.
FC Goa: Boasting one of the most loyal fanbases, FC Goa is the first ISL club to qualify for the AFC Champions League Elite. They were the shield winners in 2019-20 and emerged as the runner-ups in the 2024-25 season.
Odisha FC: Debuting in the 2019-20 season, Odisha FC has been a mediocre side in the tournament, with their best finish being the semifinals in 2023-24. They ended in the seventh position in the 2024-25 season.
Jamshedpur FC: Making their debut in the 2017-18 season, Jamshedpur FC won the title in 2021-22. They finished fifth in the 2024-25 season and qualified for the knockouts before losing in the semifinals.
NorthEast United FC: Another founding member, NorthEast United FC, is known for growing the game in the northeast. After failing to impress in three consecutive seasons, they qualified for the knockouts in the 2024-25 season.
Punjab FC: Punjab FC finished eighth in their debut season in the 2023-24 season. Their performance regressed, as they finished 10th in the last iteration, and would look to make a maiden appearance in the knockouts.
Mohammedan SC: The Kolkata-based outfit made their debut in the last season and finished last in the table with only two wins in 24 games. It will be interesting to witness whether they could surprise the onlookers with their performances.
Inter Kashi FC: Based in Varanasi, Inter Kashi FC will make their debut appearance in the 2025-26 season. The latest entrant will look to make a strong statement after their promotion to the league.
Sporting Club Delhi: Another debutant will have an opportunity to impress the fans with their performances. In the last season, they played as Hyderabad and ended up in the 12th position in the ISL standings. The new ownership changed its base to the national capital.
ISL Format
The regular season in the ISL witnesses the teams contesting in a total of 24 rounds. With a double round-robin format in place, each team plays against the other 12 teams twice, once at home and once at the opponent’s soil. It is interesting to note that from the 2022-23 season, the home-away format returned, and the clubs played their games at home, attracting packed crowds in the venues.
With the teams increasing from 13 to 14 in the 2025 season, all teams are expected to be part of 26 games in the regular season. A win will help the team garner three points, while a draw will fetch them one point. The goal difference (goals scored – goals conceded) is an important parameter to finalize which team should have an upper hand in the ISL points table.
The top team after the culmination of the regular season is crowned as the ISL champions and are presented with the League Winners Shield (introduced in 2019-20). Notably, the winner also qualifies for the AFC Champions League 2 (Asian continental competition).
Thereafter, the knockout tournament takes place between the top six teams to determine the ISL Cup winner. The top teams qualify directly to the two-legged semifinals, while the other four battle it out to reach the top four. The single-leg final is hosted by the higher-ranked side, and the winner takes home the ISL cup.
According to reports, the promotion and relegation system will be introduced in the ISL. As a result, the I-League champion will be promoted to the ISL, while the bottom-placed team in the ISL will be relegated to the I-League.
So far, the expansion has taken place by adding new cities or by relocating existing clubs. With the new system in place, the ISL 2025 is expected to offer exciting action for football enthusiasts.
Each club could register 35 players, including six foreign players. A maximum of four foreign players is allowed to take the field at any time. Each club should field seven Indian players in the X, along with two U23 players in the squad.
ISL Transfer News
The ISL 2025 transfer window began on June 12, and since then the clubs have been proactive with their strategy to acquire the services or discontinue the contract of some of their players. They were invested in bolstering their squads with the right domestic talent and foreign recruits to help them perform well in the upcoming season.
The majority of the transfers came during the uncertain period, when the league was put on hold due to numerous issues. As the league is now starting to take shape, let’s take a look at the top ISL transfer news:
1) Mohun Bagan Signs Experienced Defender Mehtab Singh
Mohun Bagan Super Giant announced the arrival of veteran defender Mehtab Singh to their roster. Since 2020, Mehtab has been representing the Mumbai City FC side.
In 92 appearances, he scored five goals and held an85% Passing accuracy across five seasons. During his tenure, he played a key role in helping The Islanders secure two ISL Cups and as many shields. Since 2023, he has also been a part of the Indian team.
2) East Bengal FC Part Ways with Dimitrios Diamantakos
East Bengal FC and the experienced Greek striker have mutually parted ways ahead of the 2025-26 season.
Diamantakos impressed with his goal-scoring appetite during his stint with the Kerala Blasters from 2022 to 2024. He scored 23 goals and provided six assists for the Blasters, while emerging as the finest player in the 2023-24 season with 13 goals.
As a result, the Kolkata-based club chased Diamantakos and secured his services for the 2024-25 season. However, he had an underwhelming season, as he scored only four goals in 19 appearances. The striker failed to end East Bengal’s goalscoring woes, as they finished ninth in the ISL standings.
The impressive performances in other leagues could not help Dimitrios Diamantakos, as he left the Red and Gold Brigade.
3) Jorge Pereyra Díaz Back with Mumbai City FC
Mumbai City FC brought back Jorge Pereyra Diaz after the latter spent a year at Bengaluru FC. The Argentinian forward could only contribute with three goals and four assists in 18 games in the 2024-25 season.
Meanwhile, Diaz performed well for The Islanders from 2022 to 2024, where he was the team’s finest player with 21 goals. With a familiar environment, Diaz is expected to be naturally fit for the Mumbai-based club.
4) FIFA Slaps A Transfer Ban on Mohammedan Sporting Club
The Mohammedan Sporting Club is going through a horrid time due to unpaid dues and a lack of support from investors. In July, FIFA banned the Kolkata-based club from acquiring new players, as they failed to pay the dues to their former player, Kasimov Mirjalol. The apex body made it clear that the ban will be in place until the full amount is paid.
Due to the departure of primary investors and the unfulfilled promises of previous backers, the club is struggling to remain afloat.
5) Abhishek Singh Tekcham Signs with Mohun Bagan
Defender Abhishek Tekcham signed with Mohun Bagan on a four-year deal from Punjab FC for a reported transfer fee of INR 1.8 crore. Meanwhile, he will earn INR 2.1 crore for the first three seasons, which marks one of the top ISL transfer news stories ahead of the next season.
In 22 appearances for Punjab, Tekcham won 86 duels and eight aerial battles in the 2024-25 season. Earlier this year, he also made his India debut.
ISL Winners List
| Season | ISL Champion | Runner-up | League Shield Winner |
| 2014 | Atlético de Kolkata | Kerala Blasters FC | — |
| 2015 | Chennaiyin FC | FC Goa | — |
| 2016 | Atlético de Kolkata | Kerala Blasters FC | — |
| 2017–18 | Chennaiyin FC | Bengaluru FC | — |
| 2018–19 | Bengaluru FC | FC Goa | Bengaluru FC (Shield introduced) |
| 2019–20 | ATK | Chennaiyin FC | FC Goa |
| 2020–21 | Mumbai City FC | ATK Mohun Bagan | Mumbai City FC |
| 2021–22 | Hyderabad FC | Kerala Blasters FC | Jamshedpur FC |
| 2022–23 | ATK Mohun Bagan | Bengaluru FC | Mumbai City FC |
| 2023–24 | Mumbai City FC | Mohun Bagan SG | Mohun Bagan SG |
| 2024–25 | Mohun Bagan SG | Mumbai City FC | Mumbai City FC |
2014
The inaugural season in 2014 witnessed the participation of eight teams, and the top four qualified for the playoffs. Chennaiyin, FC Goa, ATK, and Kerala Blasters were the semifinalists.
In the final, ATK emerged as the champion after beating the Blasters 1-0. Chennaiyin’s Elano Blumer was the top scorer in this season with eight goals.
2015
In this season, FC Goa, ATK, Chennaiyin, and the Delhi Dynamos advanced to the playoffs. In the final, Chennaiyin beat FC Goa 3-2 to win the title. Chennaiyin’s Stiven Mendoza scored 13 goals to emerge as the top scorer.
2016
Mumbai City FC, Kerala Blasters, Delhi Dynamos, and ATK were the top four teams after the culmination of the regular season. The final game between the Blasters and ATK ended with a 1-1 scoreline. Then, ATK secured a win in the penalty with a 4-3 margin. Odisha FC’s Marcelo Leite Pereira was the top performer with 10 goals.
2017
Bengaluru FC, Chennaiyin, FC Goa, and Pune City were the top four teams in the ISL standings. The final witnessed Chennaiyin emerging as the champion after beating 3-2. Ferran Corominas Telechea posted 18 goals and impressed everybody with their performances.
2018
Bengaluru FC, FC Goa, Mumbai City FC, and NorthEast United were the top four teams in this season. In the final, Bengaluru beat Goa 1-0 to emerge as the champion. Ferran Corominas Teleche was the finest player with 18 goals to his name.
2019-20
The 2019-20 season witnessed FC Goa, ATK, Bengaluru FC, and Chennaiyin qualifying for the semifinals. Thereafter, ATK won their third title after beating Chennaiyin 3-1. With 15 goals, Blasters’ Bartholomew Ogbeche was the top scorer.
2020-21
Mumbai City FC, ATK, Goa, and NorthEast United progressed to the semifinals of the prestigious tournament in the 2020-21 season. Mumbai City etched their names into the history books by winning their first title. Roy Krishna and Igor Angulo were the joint-highest scorers with 14 goals.
2021-22
Jamshedpur FC, Hyderabad FC, ATK, and Kerala Blasters reached the semifinals in this season. On account of being the finest team in the standings, Jamshedpur was crowned as the league’s shield winners.
Meanwhile, Hyderabad played out a 1-1 draw in the ISL final against the Blasters. Then, they secured a 3-1 win on penalties to make their entry into the ISL winners list. Ogbeche topped the charts yet again with 18 goals to his name.
2022-23
A total of six teams participated in the knockouts, with Mumbai City FC emerging as the shield winners after finishing at the top of the table with 14 wins in 20 appearances.
Then, the ISL final between ATK and Bengaluru ended in a 2-2 draw. The Kolkata-based side won the title after a 4-3 win in the penalties. Cleiton Silva, Diego Mauricio, and Dimitri Petratos were the joint-highest scorers with 12 goals.
2023-24
Mohun Bagan topped the ISL standings after the completion of the regular season with 15 victories in 22 games. In the ISL final, Mumbai City FC dominated the proceedings to secure a 3-1 victory and win the ISL Cup. Dimitrios Diamantakos and Krishna emerged as the joint-best top performers with 13 goals.
2024-25
The last season witnessed Mohun Bagan emerging as the Shield and the ISL Cup winners. Alaaeddine Ajaraie produced a terrific season, scoring 23 goals.
ISL Live Streaming Details
With the commercial agreement yet to be signed, there is no fixed platform for the ISL Live streaming. You can watch today ISL match broadcasting details soon after the picture becomes clear.
ISL 2024-25 Winner
The regular season of the 11th season of the ISL took place from September 13, 2024, to March 12, followed by the playoffs until April 12, 2025. Mohun Bagan entered as the defending champions, having won the shield in ISL 2023-24. Meanwhile, Mumbai City FC were the defending cup winners, as they won the ISL Cup in the 2023-24 season.
It is worth noting that Mohammedan SC was introduced as the 13th team in the tournament, after they emerged as the champions in the 2023-24 season of the I-League.
Mohun Bagan were sensational with their consistent performances in the 2025 season under the leadership of defender Subashish Bose. They were dominant to continue their momentum on home as well as away soil.
They also created history by becoming the first ISL team to breach the 50-point mark in the tournament. They finished the regular season with 17 wins, five draws, and two losses in 24 games, amounting to 56 points. As a result, they attained direct qualification to the AFC Champions League Two group stage and the ISL semi-finals. The Bose-led side became the first team to defend its crown in the league.
Meanwhile, FC Goa ended in the second position with 14 victories in 24 appearances and 48 points. They secured qualification for the AFC Champions League Two preliminary stage and the ISL semi-finals.
Bengaluru FC, NorthEast United FC, Jamshedpur FC, and Mumbai City FC were the other four teams that progressed to the knockouts. Jamshedpur beat NorthEast United 2-0, while Bengaluru prevailed 5-0 over Mumbai to enter the semifinals.
In the semifinals, Mohun Bagan emerged as the winners over Jamshedpur with an aggregate of 3-2 in a double-legged semifinal. Meanwhile, Bengaluru also completed a 3-2 victory over the Goa-based outfit in the top-four clash.
The ISL final on April 12 saw both Mohun Bagan and Bengaluru end in a 1-1 draw after the regulation time. With extra time in place, Jamie Maclaren’s 96th-minute goal sealed a 2-1 victory for Mohun Bagan.
With ISL 2025 set to kick off in December, all eyes will be on Mohun Bagan as they look to continue their dominance in the country’s premier football tournament.
ISL Coaches
The coaches have played a pivotal role in helping the ISL achieve popularity in India. They are involved in the day-to-day operations, player acquisitions, and also help the players unlock their true potential at the biggest stage. Let’s take a look at the list of coaches of all clubs.
| Club | Head coach |
| Bengaluru | Gerard Zaragoza |
| Chennaiyin | Owen Coyle |
| Inter Kashi | Antonio López Habas |
| East Bengal | Oscar Bruzon |
| Goa | Manolo Márquez |
| Hyderabad | Shameel Chembakath |
| Jamshedpur | Khalid Jamil |
| Kerala Blasters | David Català |
| Mohammedan | Mehrajuddin Wadoo |
| Mohun Bagan SG | José Francisco Molina |
| Mumbai City | Petr Kratky |
Odisha FC’s Sergio Lobera has served as the coach the most times (127) in the history of ISL. He led FC Goa from 2017 to 2020 and Mumbai City FC in 2021, before taking over at Odisha from 2023. He also leads the all-time list with 40 clean sheets. So far, Lobera has won two ISL League Shields and one ISL Cup.
Goa’s Manolo Márquez holds a 51.72 win percentage, which is the most for any current ISL coach. He was in charge of Hyderabad FC from 2020 to 2023 and then switched to Goa. He also worked as the Indian team’s head coach before stepping down from the role in July 2025.
Antonio López Habas has led three teams in the ISL. He will become the first coach to manage four teams when he takes over as Inter Kashi’s head coach in the 2025-26 season.
It is worth noting that Jamshedpur FC will witness a change in the leadership role. Steven Dias will replace Khalid Jamil, who was the head coach of the club from 2023 to 2025. Jamil is currently the head coach of the national team.
Meanwhile, Chennaiyin FC have appointed Clifford Miranda as the head coach for ISL 2025.
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