All 14 clubs participating in the Indian Super League (ISL) have confirmed their participation and home venues for the 2025-26 season, with the new campaign scheduled to kick off on February 14. The confirmation on Monday finally brings clarity to a league that had been surrounded by uncertainty for several months.
Reigning champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant will continue to make the Salt Lake Stadium their home base. The venue proved to be a fortress for the Mariners last season and was preferred over the Kishore Bharati Krirangan, which had also been under consideration. Mohun Bagan is expected to share the Salt Lake Stadium with arch-rivals East Bengal, with both clubs already well into their preparations for the new season.
Mohun Bagan parted ways with coach Jose Molina following their Super Cup exit and have been training under new head coach Sergio Lobera since November 28. A club official expressed confidence, saying, “We remain ready and optimistic about the season ahead. All our teams – the age group, reserve and first teams – have been under intense practice, and our new coach has been working with the first team squad from day one (of his arrival).”
East Bengal, meanwhile, resumed training on January 5 after losing the AIFF Super Cup final last month, signalling an early push to be competitive once the league begins.
In the national capital, Punjab FC and Sporting Club Delhi will share the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium as their home venue. Sporting Club Delhi, previously known as Hyderabad FC, shifted base following a change in ownership after the 2024-25 season.
Mohammedan Sporting briefly explored the possibility of switching venues but eventually opted to return to the Kishore Bharati Krirangan due to pitch infrastructure concerns at alternative grounds. Senior club official Dipendu Biswas said the area around the goalpost at Barsat Stadium was a major issue.
West Bengal will also see a third ISL venue, with newly promoted Inter Kashi playing their home matches at the Kalyani Stadium.
The season’s confirmation follows months of limbo after the Master Rights Agreement between Football Sports Development Limited and All India Football Federation ended on December 8. The deadlock was resolved on January 5 after intervention from the Sports Ministry, leading to approval of a truncated single-leg home-and-away format.
Under the revised plan, 91 matches will be played between February 14 and May 31, with each team featuring in 13 games. Fixtures for the season are expected to be finalised later this week.
