The All India Football Federation (AIFF) and the Indian Super League (ISL) Managing Committee on Wednesday, 8 July jointly announced a landmark restructuring of the league's operational framework, under which clubs will assume control of commercial rights — including broadcasting and sponsorship — while the AIFF retains governance and regulatory oversight. The announcement signals the most significant shift in ISL's administrative architecture since its inception.

The New Commercial Structure

Under the revamped model, the ISL Managing Committee will take charge of broadcast and sponsorship negotiations, effectively moving the league toward a club-ownership model for revenue generation. The AIFF, meanwhile, will continue to oversee governance, scheduling, and key operational matters.

The joint press conference was attended by AIFF Deputy Secretary General M. Satyanarayan, Head of Competitions Akshay Rohatgi, FC Goa CEO Ravi Puskur, NorthEast United FC CEO Mandar Tamhane, and Sporting Club Delhi CEO Dhruv Sood.

'From our side, we are very committed to making this league one of the best in Asia. We are also keeping in mind the recent Supreme Court's order and the new National Sports Governance Act,' Satyanarayan said.

Why the Clubs Are Taking the Lead

NorthEast United FC CEO Mandar Tamhane explained the rationale, framing the shift as a long-term financial imperative. 'It will be a broadcast-driven model. We are moving towards a club-led model because both the clubs and the AIFF believe it is the right approach from the perspective of long-term commercial and financial sustainability,' he stated.

The Managing Committee will next issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) to appoint a broadcast partner and begin securing commercial sponsorships. The AIFF will simultaneously write to all 14 participating clubs to confirm their participation in the 2026-27 campaign.

Full Home-and-Away Format Returns

The 2026-27 ISL season will mark the return of a complete home-and-away league format, reversing the truncated scheduling that affected previous editions. FC Goa CEO Ravi Puskur welcomed the development: 'We will have a full-fledged season where every team will play their respective home and away games in a full quota rather than having to play a truncated format.'

The league calendar will be aligned with FIFA international match windows in September, October, November, and March, and will also accommodate the AFC club competition commitments of Indian representatives FC Goa and East Bengal.

National Team Access and Player Availability

Satyanarayan confirmed that discussions with clubs over player release periods for national duty are already underway. 'We have already had several rounds of discussions with the clubs and requested them to release players for a longer period for the 'National Interest.' The earlier we move forward with the process, the better we can plan the scheduling,' he said, adding that the joint club-AIFF governance model was expected to ease such coordination.

Stakeholder Backing and Early Signals

Sporting Club Delhi CEO Dhruv Sood, whose club is in its debut ISL campaign, noted that government support had already been forthcoming. 'In SC Delhi's first season, the Ministry did come forward and offered their full support to the league, with regard to the availability of stadiums. The AIFF also did their best to reduce the cost of the league,' he said.

This comes amid a broader regulatory backdrop, with the new National Sports Governance Act and a recent Supreme Court order shaping the context in which Indian football's stakeholders are recalibrating their structures. The broadcast RFP outcome and club confirmations in the coming weeks will be the first real test of the new model's commercial appeal.