The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has issued a crucial deadline to the clubs of the Indian Super League (ISL). In a decisive move to get the delayed 2025-26 season back on track, the federation has instructed all fourteen participating teams to confirm the details of their chosen home venues. The clubs must submit this information by 12 noon on Monday, 12 January 2026.
Race Against Time to Finalize Fixtures
This urgent request is a direct consequence of the recent announcement by Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, who confirmed that the upcoming ISL season will commence on 14 February 2026. The league had been on an indefinite pause due to the absence of a commercial partner. The AIFF now needs the venue confirmations to begin the intricate work of creating the match schedule for a full home-and-away season, which will feature a total of 91 matches.
In an official letter signed by Deputy General Secretary M Satyanarayan, the AIFF expressed gratitude to the clubs for their "in-principle" agreement to participate. The federation outlined a clear plan, stating that upon receiving the venue details and the necessary participation deposit, it will immediately embark on several parallel critical tasks.
Key Steps Following Venue Confirmation
The AIFF has laid out a comprehensive action plan that will be triggered once the clubs meet the deadline. The federation will:
- Share the draft governance framework for the ISL.
- Circulate draft Request for Proposals (RFPs) to appoint broadcast and commercial rights partners.
- Begin formal work on the match fixtures and other related operational matters.
- Start preparing the final participation agreements for the clubs.
- Coordinate with local authorities at the confirmed venues to ensure smooth organization.
- Liaise with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to seek necessary exemptions, particularly concerning AFC Champions League 2 slots for the season.
Financial Framework and Club Contributions
The financial blueprint for the season has also been detailed by the AIFF. The total proposed budget for the 2025-26 ISL season is INR 24,26,74,000 (Twenty-Four Crores Twenty-Six Lakh Seventy-Four Thousand). To fund this, the AIFF has committed an initial contribution of INR 9,77,40,000 (Nine Crores Seventy-Seven Lakh Forty Thousand).
Each participating club is required to contribute INR 1,00,00,000 (One Crore) as a participation fee. In a supportive gesture, the AIFF has offered flexibility, allowing clubs to pay this fee in instalments up to June 2026 if they are unable to make the payment immediately. The federation has reassured the clubs that it is taking all necessary steps to implement the league's revival plan "in letter and spirit."
With the February start date now officially set, the next week is critical for Indian football. The response from the ISL clubs to the AIFF's Monday noon deadline will determine the pace at which the league's long-awaited return can be organized, bringing football back to stadiums across the country.
