The Governing Council of the Indian Football League (IFL) announced that the 2026-27 season will commence on October 30, after a meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday with representatives of all 11 participating clubs.
Viewership figures and overall broadcast performance of the previous season were noted as hugely encouraging; it was four times higher than in the 2024-25 season.
The Governing Council also approved a regulation permitting a maximum of three foreign players on the pitch at a time for the upcoming season. It also welcomed Nagaland and Odisha as new venues for the 2026-27 season.
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The IFL Charter for the upcoming season was discussed, along with the proposed budget and sponsorship packages.
AIFF deputy secretary general M. Satyanarayan said, “We are now looking forward to a full-fledged home-and-away season. With new entrants and new venues coming into the league, there is a lot to look forward to, and all of this will add to the excitement around the IFL.”
As part of the preparations for the 2026-27 season, representatives of the IFL clubs and Satyanarayan also met Prasar Bharati CEO Gaurav Dwivedi in New Delhi on Monday to discuss a broadcast partnership for the upcoming season.
Published on Sep 08, 2026
