ISL 2026-27, Durand Cup start date revealed: Here's when India's top football competitions will get underway

The 13th season of the Indian Super League will kick off on 4 September, All India Football Federation Deputy Secretary General M Satyanarayan confirmed recently, marking the tournament's return to its usual window after a truncated season earlier this year.

Satyanarayan also confirmed that the Durand Cup, which marks the beginning of the football season in India, will be getting underway later this month, taking place from 25 June to 25 July.

The development comes after the AIFF accepted a club-led model to run India's top football competition for the next two seasons at least after a landmark meeting between the governing body and club representatives in New Delhi.

Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya had convened the meeting in the national capital and was reportedly in favour of the club-led model.

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The development appeared to have cleared the decks for the start of the 2026-27 season of the ISL in September as scheduled.

Formal announcement to be made soon, says AIFF's Satyanarayan

Satyanarayan further told PTI that a final agreement will be signed and formally announced on June 15 after "ironing out some details".

"We have agreed in principle to the proposal made by the ISL clubs and we have told this to the Sports Minister. The sports ministry also said it's okay. So, we will make a formal announcement on June 15.

"We also have to see how it will work legally. So, there is no final agreement as of now. We have to work on some details and iron them out. That will happen in the next three-four days.

"The kick-off for ISL is finalised, it will begin on September 4. Durand Cup will be between June 25 and July 25."

The 2026-27 ISL is expected to be a full seven-month season, with home and away matches for the 14 participating teams.

On Monday, Sports Minister Mandaviya had asked the AIFF and ISL clubs to create a task force that would thrash out a "structured plan" for at least the next two seasons of the crisis-ridden league.

The clubs had proposed a two-year club-led pilot model for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons as an interim solution before any long-term commercial arrangements.

AIFF to remain in charge of ISL despite club-led model

Another official, however, said that the AIFF will still own and operate the ISL.

"The clubs will be in charge of the commercial part, but that will be under AIFF's supervision. The AIFF will still own and operate the league.

"We are doing this in the interest of the clubs, because they have also gone under losses. But we are still looking at a long-term model. At the end of two years, we are going to review the situation (club-led model).

"The clubs said at least for two years you (AIFF) allow us to do this model and then you can review it. They can later say, we'll do it for five years or for 15 years. We will take a call at that point in time. As of now, we (AIFF) have agreed in principle the two-year model part."

He said the AIFF will also include London-based data and technology firm Genius Sports in the discussions.

"We will also speak to Genius Sports. They (Genius Sport) will also be part of the whole thing. All three together will work on this.

"Moreover, the broadcast rights will have to be tendered."

With PTI inputs