ISL 2025-26 kicks off today: The wait is finally over for Indian football fans as the Indian Indian Super League (ISL) 2025-26 officially commences on February 14. This 12th edition of the league arrives with a sense of urgency and evolution, featuring a revamped ‘sprint’ format and a new broadcasting home.
The season opens with a blockbuster double-header. Defending champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant face off against Kerala Blasters at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata at 05:00 PM IST. This will be followed by FC Goa hosting the league’s newest entrants, Inter Kashi, at the Fatorda Stadium at 07:30 PM IST.
A New Era: No playoffs and a single-leg sprint
The most significant change this year is the move to a truncated, single-leg round-robin format. Due to the delayed start, the traditional home-and-away system and post-season playoffs have been eliminated for the 2025-26 cycle.
The Stakes: Each of the 14 teams will play exactly 13 matches. There is no ‘final’- the team that finishes at the top of the standings after 91 matches will be crowned the ISL Champions.
Promotion & Relegation: This season marks the full integration of the promotion-relegation system. While Inter Kashi joins the top flight, the team that finishes 14th this season will be relegated to the I-League.
The Prize: Beyond the trophy, the champions will secure a direct entry into the AFC Champions League Two (ACL2) preliminary stage.
Where to watch: Broadcast and live streaming details
Following a high-stakes bidding process, the ISL has moved away from its long-term broadcaster. For the 2025-26 season, fans will need to switch to new platforms to catch the action live:
Digital Streaming: Every match will be streamed live on the FanCode app and website. FanCode has introduced a flexible Match Pass at Rs 25, Team Pass at Rs 149) and Season Pass at Rs 299 system.
TV Telecast: Linear television rights have been sublicensed to Sony Pictures Networks India. You can watch the matches live on Sony Sports Ten 2 and Sony Sports Ten 2 HD.
Regional Coverage: Special regional broadcasts are expected to be available in West Bengal and Kerala to cater to the league’s most passionate local fan bases.