The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Wednesday asked the clubs to confirm their participation in the delayed season of the Indian Super League (ISL) and the proposed format within a day so that it can inform the continental body the exact number of matches to be played in the competition.
With the ISL 2025-26 yet to start, it is certain that the clubs will not be able to play the mandatory 24 matches in the season, including top division league and domestic cup, to be eligible to feature in the AFC Champions League 2.
In this regard, the ISL clubs had urged the AIFF to request the Asian Football Confederation for a one-time relaxation in the minimum requirement of 24 matches so that they can play in the ACL 2. The representatives of the clubs and a committee formed by the AIFF have had five meetings since December 24 on how to hold the 2025-26 ISL season.
"... the meetings held on December 28, 2025, wherein the ISL Clubs requested the All India Football Federation to take up the matter with the Asian Football Confederation regarding a one-time relaxation in the minimum requirement of 24 matches," the AIFF said in a letter to the ISL clubs.
"AIFF asks ISL clubs to confirm participation and the proposed competition format in ISL 2024-25 by January 1, 2026. The AFC, Sports Ministry and Supreme Court will be informed accordingly. Considering the urgency of the matter, it would be highly appreciated if the confirmation is received by January 1, 2026. We trust you will appreciate the seriousness and time-sensitive nature of the situation," said the AIFF.
It said it is required to submit the outcome of the meetings it had with the ISL clubs to the Sports Ministry before January 2. "Further, the Supreme Court is scheduled to resume after vacation on January 5 and all stakeholders may be required to file relevant documents in accordance with legal advice," said the AIFF, which had proposed two competition formats for the ISL 2025-26 season, which it wants to start in the first week of February.
The first option is a conference-based league structure where the 14 participating teams would be divided equally into East and West groups. Teams would play against each other only within their respective conferences. The top four sides from each group will advance to a single-leg championship round to decide the ISL winner. All the matches would be played at two centralised venues.
Under the second option, all the teams would compete in a single-leg format without conferences. There would be no playoffs with the league table alone determining the champion at the end of the season.
India has two spots in the ACL 2, one in group stage for ISL Shield winners and another in playoff round for Super Cup winners. Each club in the domestic top division also needs to play a minimum of 24 matches in a season, including top division league and domestic cup, to be eligible to feature in the ACL 2.
FC Goa, who had won the Super Cup earlier this year, could be disqualified from participation in ACL 2 play-off round if they do not play the mandatory number of matches. It is, however, learnt that the AIFF will push for the top-tier league to happen this season, though truncated, even if the AFC does not agree with the one-time relaxation, thereby missing the ACL 2 slots because of not fulfilling the mandatory number of matches.
Also read: AIFF proposes ISL 'owned’ by it for next 20 seasons
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