Diamond Harbour’s dream run continues as they earn ISL promotion in remarkable journey

Diamond Harbour FC have completed one of the most remarkable rise stories in Indian football, sealing promotion to the Indian Super League (ISL) after winning the I-League title in dramatic fashion during the 2025-26 season.

The West Bengal-based club, founded in 2000, has climbed through the Indian football pyramid at incredible speed. From winning I-League 3 in 2024 to lifting the I-League 2 title in 2025, Diamond Harbour have now added the I-League crown in 2026 to complete a stunning three-year promotion run into the ISL.

Their latest success came in Goa against Dempo SC, where a late injury-time equaliser from Hugo Diaz secured a 1-1 draw and confirmed the league title with a match to spare. The result ensured Diamond Harbour finished top of the table with 29 points, sealing their historic promotion.

Rapid rise through Indian football

Diamond Harbour’s journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. In just a few seasons, the club has moved from the lower tiers of Indian football to the very top.

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The club, coached by Spanish manager Kibu Vicuna, started by competing in the Calcutta Football League structure in 2022 before moving quickly into national competitions.

They also made headlines during their 2025 Durand Cup run, where they defeated ISL sides like Jamshedpur FC and East Bengal FC before finishing runners-up.

Now, with promotion to the ISL confirmed, Diamond Harbour are set to enter India’s top tier in the 2026-27 season, marking a new chapter in their history.

However, their promotion comes at a time when the future of Indian football looks gloomy. The upcoming ISL season has not yet been confirmed by the AIFF, which is still searching for a commercial partner after last year’s mismanagement that led to the exit of its long-term partner FSDL.

ISL clubs have raised serious concerns, with some even hinting at possible closure after the end of the ongoing truncated season. The clubs want the AIFF to allow them to run the league instead of bringing in another partner, which they believe would be a losing deal.