After a six-year absence, top-tier Indian football is set to make a triumphant return to Delhi as Hyderabad FC officially rebrands itself as Sporting Club Delhi. This move marks the end of Hyderabad's five-year association with the city and brings an end to Delhi's wait for an Indian Super League (ISL) team since Delhi Dynamos moved to Bhubaneswar to become Odisha FC in 2019.
The relocation and rebranding come after the BC Jindal Group acquired Hyderabad FC in September 2024. The club has informed the All India Football Federation (AIFF) of its long-term vision to establish a professionally run football club that not only competes at the highest level but also nurtures local talent and connects deeply with Delhi's new generation of fans. Sporting Club Delhi has already secured land in New Delhi to serve as its operational base and grassroots training hub.
Sporting Club Delhi is set to make its official debut in the Super Cup 2025 under its new identity. The club aims to revive Delhi's passion for football and build a team with a strong, sustainable foundation.
Hyderabad FC was founded in 2019 following the dissolution of FC Pune City. The club struggled initially, finishing at the bottom of the ISL table in its debut season. However, the arrival of Spanish coach Manolo Márquez turned the club's fortunes around, leading to an inspiring turnaround culminating in the 2021–22 ISL title. In the 2024-25 season, Hyderabad FC finished 12th in the 13-team league, with only four wins in 24 matches. Off-field instability also contributed to their woes, with head coach Thanboi Singto departing mid-season.
The BC Jindal Group aims to develop a professionally run football club that reflects the values and aspirations of a new generation of fans in Delhi and across India. The club's communication to the AIFF emphasizes that Sporting Club Delhi will be "a professionally run institution representing the new sporting energy of Delhi". The move is strategically significant, as Delhi has been without a top-tier team since 2019. Despite its large population and economic power, the Delhi-NCR region has struggled to sustain football engagement beyond short-lived projects.
Delhi has a rich footballing history, with fans filling the Ambedkar Stadium for major tournaments in the 1950s and 60s. Even Delhi Dynamos, with star signings like Alessandro Del Piero, Roberto Carlos, and Florent Malouda, struggled to maintain consistent crowds before relocating. Sporting Club Delhi will aim to rekindle that passion and build a team with a strong, sustainable foundation. The club's new logo features a stylized Phoenix, a mythical bird rising from the flames, representing resilience and the rebirth of the sport in the city and its surrounding regions.
The return of top-flight football to Delhi is expected to revitalize the sport in the region. Sporting Club Delhi's focus on youth development, community engagement, and grassroots football is expected to create a strong foundation for the future. The club has significant land in New Delhi, which will serve as the center of operations and the future home of the football team. This will allow the club to develop infrastructure, academies, and local partnerships.
