Seven ISL clubs granted Premier 1 licence

The All India Football Federation published its Premier 1 club licensing results on May 20, one day before the Indian Super League’s final round of fixtures. The federation said seven clubs were granted licences with sanctions for the 2026-27 season, while seven others were rejected. (the-aiff.com) The approved clubs were NorthEast United FC, East Bengal FC, Jamshedpur FC, Mumbai City FC, Bengaluru FC, FC Goa and Punjab FC, according to the AIFF statement. (the-aiff.com) The rejected list included Sporting Club Delhi, Odisha FC, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Chennaiyin FC, Kerala Blasters FC, Mohammedan Sporting Club and Inter Kashi. ### Which clubs got the licence, and who missed out? The AIFF’s Club Licensing Committee – First Instance Body said it took its decisions at a meeting on May 17 in New Delhi. The federation announced the outcome three days later. (the-aiff.com) Seven clubs cleared the process with sanctions rather than a clean licence. The AIFF did not specify in its public results note what each sanction was, but it listed the seven successful applicants by name. ### Why does “with sanctions” matter? The AIFF’s 2026 licensing regulations include a section on licensing sanctions as part of the club licensing system for the 2026-27 cycle. (the-aiff.com) The public results release used the phrase “license granted with sanctions” for all seven approved clubs. The federation’s statement did not break down the sanction attached to each club in the release itself. (the-aiff.com) That means the published result establishes that the clubs were licensed, but not the club-by-club compliance shortfall behind each sanction. ### What is Premier 1 actually for? (the-aiff.com) The AIFF said Premier 1 licences are the category used for Indian Super League clubs. It said Premier 2 licences are used for Indian Football League clubs. The federation also described club licensing as an annual process through which clubs obtain the licence needed to take part in AFC and national club competitions each season. (the-aiff.com) In its regulations, the AIFF says the 2026 edition applies to the 2026-27 licensing cycle. ### What happens now for Mohun Bagan and the other rejected clubs? The AIFF said clubs whose applications were rejected have two immediate options. (the-aiff.com) They can appeal the decision or request an exemption to participate in the national club competition, according to the federation’s results note. That leaves the rejected clubs, including Mohun Bagan Super Giant and Kerala Blasters FC, needing further clearance if they want to regularize their status through the licensing process. The AIFF statement did not set out a public deadline for those next steps in the release announcing the results. (the-aiff.com) ### Why did this land when it did? May 20 was also the eve of the ISL’s final-day matches, with East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, Punjab FC and Mumbai City all still in the title race, according to Indian Express and The Hindu. The licensing announcement therefore arrived while several of the clubs involved were still active in the season’s closing round. (the-aiff.com) The next formal step is any appeal or exemption request from the rejected clubs. The AIFF has already said those routes are available under the applicable licensing regulations for the 2026-27 cycle. (the-aiff.com)