The I-League 2025-26 season is set to be a shortened affair, featuring ten teams, with final confirmation expected after February 2. The season is scheduled to begin on February 21.
Teams and Promotion/Relegation
Diamond Harbour of West Bengal and Chanmari FC of Mizoram have been promoted from the I-League 2024-25 season. However, there remains uncertainty regarding the participation of Churchill Brothers due to an ongoing legal dispute. Churchill Brothers were initially announced as the I-League champions of the last edition and were to be promoted to the ISL, but a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruling awarded the title to Inter Kashi, who were then promoted to the ISL. Churchill Brothers' case against the AIFF is currently pending in the Delhi High Court.
The ten clubs that are expected to participate are Diamond Harbour, Chanmari FC, Real Kashmir, Gokulam Kerala, Rajasthan United, Dempo SC, Namdhari FC, Shillong Lajong, Sreenidi Deccan, and Aizawl FC.
Format Changes
The competition will adopt a two-stage format. All teams will participate in a single round-robin phase, after which the league will be divided into a championship group and a relegation group. Points earned in the first stage will carry over, maintaining competitive integrity. The bottom two teams from the relegation phase will be relegated to I-League 2.
AIFF head Kalyan Chaubey confirmed on January 6, 2026, that all 11 I-League clubs would participate in a single leg home-and-away format for a total of 55 matches due to the shortened season. Additionally, on January 29, 2026, the AIFF proposed a championship round involving the top six teams and a relegation round with the five bottom-placed sides. Points from the initial stage will be carried to the championship round, with the top two qualifying for the semi-finals. Teams in positions 3 to 6 will go through play-offs to advance to the last four stage. A minimum of 80 matches is expected to be played, with 50 in the top half.
Rebranding and Governance
The I-League is set to be restructured and potentially renamed the Indian Football League, pending approval from the All India Football Federation's (AIFF) Executive Committee. While formal clearance is still pending, stakeholders suggest it is largely procedural. The AIFF will retain ownership of the league but will primarily focus on regulatory and disciplinary matters, moving away from direct operational control. This shift aims to grant I-League clubs more agency over their competition.
Financial Landscape
The Indian Super League (ISL) and I-League faced challenges in securing commercial partners. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced FanCode as the exclusive media rights holder for the truncated 2025/26 season of the Indian Super League (ISL). Kaleidoscope Production and Services (KPS) Studios was awarded the production rights of the league.