The Indian Football League (IFL) 2026-27 season will begin on October 30, 2026, after the league’s Governing Council met at the Football House in New Delhi on Tuesday (September 8).

Representatives of all 11 participating clubs attended the meeting, where the Governing Council and the All India Football Federation (AIFF) reviewed the 2025-26 campaign and discussed preparations for the upcoming season.

The 2025-26 season produced encouraging results in terms of broadcast performance, with the meeting noting that the league’s viewership was four times higher than that of the 2024-25 season.

IFL to return with home-and-away format

The upcoming campaign is set to mark a significant step forward for the league, with the Governing Council confirming plans for a full-fledged home-and-away season.

The 2025-26 campaign was a truncated season, but the increased viewership has provided encouragement ahead of the expanded 2026-27 edition.

AIFF Deputy Secretary General M. Satyanarayan said the league generated considerable interest despite the shortened campaign and expressed optimism about the upcoming season.

“It was a very cordial meeting, and we are happy that the new dates for the IFL season have now been confirmed,” Satyanarayan said.

“Last season, despite being a truncated campaign, the league generated a lot of interest, and the viewership figures were very encouraging. We are now looking forward to a full-fledged home-and-away season.”

Three foreign players allowed on the pitch

One of the key decisions taken at the meeting was the approval of a new regulation concerning foreign players. Under the regulation for the 2026-27 season, a maximum of three foreign players can be on the pitch at the same time during an IFL match.

The move will have a direct impact on team selection and squad planning as clubs prepare for the new campaign.

Nagaland and Odisha added as venues

The IFL will also expand its geographical footprint in the upcoming season, with Nagaland and Odisha welcomed as new venues.

The addition of the two states is expected to take the league to new football audiences and further strengthen its presence across the country.

Satyanarayan said the arrival of new entrants and venues would add to the excitement surrounding the competition.

“With new entrants and new venues coming into the league, there is a lot to look forward to, and all of this will add to the excitement around the IFL,” he added.

IFL 2026-27 Broadcast partnership discussions with Prasar Bharati

Ahead of the Governing Council meeting, representatives of the IFL clubs and Satyanarayan met Prasar Bharati CEO Gaurav Dwivedi in New Delhi on Monday, September 7. The outcome is to be seen but the second tier of Indian football may be shown on Doordarshan.