During the league stage, the clubs will play each other twice, once at home and once away. The team finishing at the top of the standings will be declared the Shield Winners and recognised as the official ISL champions. The league winner will also secure a place in Asian club competition.
The Indian Super League (ISL) 2026-27 season will begin on October 10 and run until next May, with the competition returning to a traditional home-and-away format under a new club-led structure. The upcoming campaign will feature 163 matches over eight months, with 13 teams currently listed to take part in the league, according to a statement released by the ISL, as reported by ESPN.
Diamond Harbour FC Misses ISL Participation Due to Fee Issues
Diamond Harbour FC, the 2025-26 Indian Football League champions, will not compete in this season’s Indian Super League (ISL). The club failed to fulfill the required administrative fee, preventing their participation despite their recent success in securing promotion.
Diamond Harbour to Face Relegation and Loss of ISL Status
Diamond Harbour will start the upcoming season at the bottom of the league standings and will not be able to accumulate any points. As a consequence, the club will lose its Indian Super League (ISL) status for the 2027-28 season and will be relegated back to the Indian Football League (IFL), as confirmed in an official release.
