Clubs back 14‑team 'sprint' format for 2025‑26 season, Goal reports

Goal.com reported on May 14 that Indian Super League clubs are proceeding with a 14-team “sprint” format for the 2025-26 season, a competition structure the league’s official materials describe as a single-leg round robin over 91 matches. The report said the format follows a period of uncertainty and will decide the title on league standings rather than a playoff finish. Official Indian Super League information published in February confirms the 14-club, 91-match setup and says the team with the most points at the end of the schedule will be crowned champion. February 14 was the season start date, according to both Goal and the league’s own season information. The official ISL season note said defending champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant opened the campaign against Kerala Blasters FC in Kolkata, while FC Goa faced newcomers Inter Kashi in Goa on the same day. ### How is this season actually different from the old ISL setup? (goal.com) The 2025-26 competition features 14 clubs playing one another once, producing 91 total matches across the campaign, the league said in its “key facts and figures” release. Goal described that as a “sprint” format, with a compressed schedule and every match carrying direct weight in the table because the side finishing first is crowned champion. (goal.com) Inter Kashi and Sporting Club Delhi are among the named additions in the new-season coverage. Goal said Inter Kashi are newly promoted and Sporting Club Delhi are rebranded, while the ISL’s official note said clubs will play in 11 venues across 10 states. ### Who approved the media arrangement and what does FanCode have? (indiansuperleague.com) February 2 was the date the interim Managing Committee of the Indian Super League and the RFQ committee selected the season’s broadcast and production partners, according to the All India Football Federation. The AIFF said FanCode, a Dream Sports company, was awarded the exclusive global broadcast rights for ISL 2025-26, while Kaleidoscope Production and Services would handle production. (goal.com) Goal’s May 14 viewing guide said all 91 matches would be available to live stream exclusively on FanCode. The league’s own February season note, however, said matches would be streamed live on FanCode and telecast on Sony Sports 2. That means FanCode’s exclusivity appears to apply to streaming in the reporting reviewed here, while linear television carriage was also listed by the league. (the-aiff.com) ### What does the schedule change mean in practical terms? The league’s February operations note put concrete numbers on the tournament footprint. Around 35 match officials are assigned to work the 91 matches as referees and assistant referees, and 15 AIFF elite match commissioners are set to oversee operations, the ISL said. (goal.com) Eleven venues across 10 states are being used, according to the same release, including the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Stadium and Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata, the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, the Mumbai Football Arena, the PJN Stadium in Goa and grounds in Kochi, Guwahati, Bengaluru, Chennai, Jamshedpur and Bhubaneshwar. Those details show the format change is tied to venue operations, staffing and broadcast planning across a shorter competition window. (indiansuperleague.com) ### What is at stake beyond the title race? The ISL said relegation has been introduced for the first time, with the bottom-ranked team to be relegated to the Indian Football League and the IFL champion promoted to the top division. The league also said the club crowned champion will gain entry to the AFC Champions League Two preliminary round next season. (indiansuperleague.com) M. Satyanarayan, AIFF deputy secretary general, said on February 2 that the FanCode deal aligned with the federation’s objective of expanding the league’s footprint and engaging more football fans across the country. FanCode co-founder Yannick Colaco said the company saw “a big opportunity” to improve how supporters watch the competition through a digital-first product. (indiansuperleague.com) ### Where can fans track the rest of the season? May 17, 2026 is listed by widely used fixture databases as the end date for the 91-match season, though the league’s own pages are the primary source for match-by-match updates. The Indian Super League official website carries fixtures, standings and club information, while AIFF announcements document rights, operations and competition rules for the 2025-26 campaign. (the-aiff.com) (en.wikipedia.org)