The All India Football Federation (AIFF) and the Indian Football League (IFL) Governing Council have confirmed several key decisions ahead of the 2026-27 campaign following a meeting at the Football House in New Delhi on Monday.

Representatives from 10 of the 11 IFL clubs attended the meeting, with Mohammedan Sporting Club being the only absentee. Officials from the AIFF, including Deputy Secretary General M Satyanarayan, Head of Competitions Akshay Rohatgi and Head of Strategy and Operations Nildeep Mondal, were also present.

Indian Football League Schedule

The Indian Football League 2026-27 season will officially begin on October 16, 2026, ending speculation over the competition’s schedule.

New Foreign Player Rule

One of the biggest decisions taken was the introduction of a new foreign player regulation. Clubs will now be allowed to field a maximum of three foreign players in their starting XI.

The rule has been introduced with the objective of increasing playing opportunities for Indian footballers and accelerating the development of domestic talent.

Strong Focus on Youth Development

The Governing Council also agreed on a long-term roadmap for academy development.

Every IFL club has committed to achieve AIFF Two-Star Academy Accreditation before the 2027-28 season and upgrade to at least Three-Star Academy Accreditation by 2030.

The move is expected to strengthen youth development pathways and improve the quality of player production across the league.

Broadcast Growth

The AIFF reviewed the commercial performance of the previous campaign, revealing that the 2025-26 IFL season attracted 17.56 million live television viewers, highlighting the league’s growing popularity despite operating on a limited budget.

Deputy Secretary General M Satyanarayan said the meeting reviewed last season’s performance, financial expenditure and planning for the upcoming campaign. He added that while certain operational aspects are still being finalised, confirming the season’s start date allows the AIFF and participating clubs to begin preparations for a successful 2026-27 campaign.

Indian Football League 2026-27 Teams

Aizawl FC, FC Bengaluru United, Chanmari FC, Delhi FC, Dempo SC, Gokulam Kerala FC, Mohammedan Sporting Club, Rajasthan United FC, Real Kashmir FC, Shillong Lajong FC and Sreenidi Deccan FC.