This is a dark chapter in Indian football. For some time now, it has been rumored that the number one league of Indian football, the Indian Super League (ISL) may be closed. And that fear has come true now. ISL 2025-26 Season Postponed for now. ISL 2025-26 Season put “On Hold”, Said by FSDL to all ISL Clubs. On Friday, July 11, FSDL sent a letter to each ISL club informing them of this. ISL has been closed indefinitely. Until FSDL gives some new notice, the 2025-26 ISL Season has been suspended.

What FSDL said in letter to ISL Clubs

Today, FSDL (Football Sports Development Limited) sent a letter to the clubs informing them that the MRA (Master Rights Agreement) signed with AIFF (All India Football Federation) is ending on December 8. This means that if the ISL starts in September 2025, the agreement will expire within one-third of that time. Although discussions began many months ago regarding the signing of a new agreement between FSDL and AIFF, no solution has been found yet. Since there is no longer any agreement between FSDL and AIFF after December 2025, the organizing body FSDL is unable to organize the 2025-26 ISL. This is what FSDL has informed all the clubs in a letter.

ISL has been running for so many years; why is the ISL 2025-26 season postponed for now

MRA (Master Rights Agreement) was signed between FSDL and AIFF in 2010. The term of this agreement MRA was 15 years. Which is ending this year on December 8, 2025. According to that 15-year agreement of 2010, FSDL used to pay AIFF 50 crores every year. Now when it comes to a new agreement, FSDL is reluctant to pay such a huge amount of money to AIFF. And that is where AIFF is stuck. The renewal of the agreement between FSDL and AIFF is stuck in this complexity. As a result, the ISL 2025-26 Season is in great uncertainty. Officially, FSDL has also informed all the clubs through a letter that they will go to ISL Hold.

So is there really no chance of ISL happening in the 2025-26 Season?

FSDL has assured all ISL clubs that they are monitoring the entire matter. FSDL will transparently inform all ISL clubs if the contract is renewed or if the talks between FSDL and AIFF regarding the start of ISL progress.

But we are hopeful that AIFF and FSDL will find a solution. And ISL 2025-26 will start on time. And if ISL is indeed stopped, then it will be marked as a dark chapter in the history of Indian football. If Indian Super League is stopped, not only the clubs but also the footballers and countless football fans will be deprived.