The AIFF, the primary football governing body in India, has published its updated schedule for the 2025-26 season. A significant aspect of this announcement is the omission of the Indian Super League (ISL), the premier men’s football league in the country. The ISL, founded in 2014 as a franchise-based league, was elevated to the top tier in 2019 and is currently operated by FSDL. The Master Rights Agreement (MRA) that supports the league is slated to expire in December 2022, and there has been no news of a renewal. This lack of clarity has created uncertainty regarding the ISL’s future.
**AIFF Calendar For 2025-26 Season**
| Event | Start Date | End Date |
|—|—|—|
| Junior Boys Tier 1 and Tier 2 | 10-07-2025 | 31-07-2025 |
| Junior Girls Tier 1 and Tier 2 | 10-07-2025 | 31-07-2025 |
| Durand Cup | 15-07-2025 | 23-08-2025 |
| Super Cup/Federation Cup | 01-09-2025 | 20-09-2025 |
| Sub-Junior Girls Tier 1 and Tier 2 | 10-08-2025 | 31-08-2025 |
| Senior Women’s Group Stage | 01-09-2025 | 20-09-2025 |
| AIFF Elite Youth League (U14/U16/U18) | 01-09-2025 | 31-05-2026 |
| Senior Women’s Final Round | 01-10-2025 | 15-10-2025 |
| I-League 3 | 01-10-2025 | 30-11-2025 |
| I-League | 19-10-2025 | 30-04-2026 |
| Indian Women’s League | 25-10-2025 | 30-04-2026 |
| Santosh Trophy Group Stage | 05-12-2025 | 20-12-2025 |
| Santosh Trophy Final Round | 01-01-2026 | 20-01-2026 |
| Indian Women’s League 2 | 25-01-2026 | 30-04-2026 |
| Beach Soccer Championship | 01-02-2026 | 15-02-2026 |
| Futsal Club Championship | 01-05-2026 | 20-05-2026 |
| Swami Vivekananda U-20 Championship | 01-04-2026 | 31-05-2026 |
**Club Transfer Plans Hampered by AIFF-ISL Impasse, Season Start Delayed**
The ongoing issues between the AIFF and the ISL, which have been unresolved for months, have jeopardized the transfer plans of several clubs aiming to finalize deals during the domestic transfer window. As per recent developments from the AIFF, the senior men’s season will commence with the Durand Cup, and the Super Cup will follow, as reflected in the league calendar rather than as the concluding tournament. The decision to reschedule was significantly influenced by the low attendance at the competition, coupled with clubs’ preference to field reserve or youth teams.