The Indian Super League (ISL) 2025-26 season is set for a thrilling conclusion as the title race has narrowed down to five contenders heading into the final round of matches. On Thursday, May 21, 2026, the league will crown its champion based on the final league standings, with no playoffs in this historic season format.
Five Teams Vie for ISL Glory on Championship Sunday
Leading the charge is East Bengal FC, who sit at the top of the table with 23 points and a superior goal difference. They host Inter Kashi at the Kishore Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata, and a victory would likely secure their maiden ISL title, ending a 22-year league title drought. Their last league triumph came in the 2003-04 National Football League season.
Arch-rivals Mohun Bagan Super Giant, the defending champions, are hot on their heels, also with 23 points but trailing on goal difference. They face Sporting Club Delhi at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan. For Mohun Bagan, a win is essential, coupled with a slip-up from East Bengal, to retain their title. The Kolkata derby between these two titans ended in a dramatic 1-1 draw on May 17, keeping the title race wide open.
Mathematically still in contention are Mumbai City FC and Punjab FC, both on 22 points, who face each other in a crucial encounter in New Delhi. Their chances hinge on both East Bengal and Mohun Bagan dropping points. Jamshedpur FC, with 21 points, has the slimmest chance but still harbors hopes if results across other venues fall favorably.
The final round fixtures, all kicking off simultaneously at 7:30 PM IST, promise an evening of intense drama and shifting scenarios as the league's fate is decided by the narrowest of margins.
AIFF Club Licensing Decisions Cause Stir
In a significant development impacting the future of several clubs, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) Club Licensing Committee – First Instance Body (CLC-FIB) announced its decisions for the 2026-27 season on Sunday, May 17. Seven prominent Indian Super League clubs, including defending champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Kerala Blasters FC, and Chennaiyin FC, had their Premier 1 license applications rejected.
The rejected clubs are Sporting Club Delhi, Odisha FC, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Chennaiyin FC, Kerala Blasters FC, Mohammedan Sporting Club, and Inter Kashi. These clubs have reportedly failed to meet the AIFF's minimum criteria, which encompass sporting, infrastructure, personnel and administrative, legal, and financial aspects.
These rejections render these clubs temporarily ineligible for national and AFC competitions for the upcoming season, unless they successfully appeal the decision or are granted an exemption within seven working days. Failure to meet 'A' category criteria leads to automatic rejection, while 'B' criteria violations may result in sanctions but still allow for a license.
Conversely, seven other clubs – NorthEast United FC, East Bengal FC, Jamshedpur FC, Mumbai City FC, Bengaluru FC, FC Goa, and Punjab FC – were granted licenses, albeit with sanctions. These sanctions can range from fines and extended deadlines to withholding of grants, highlighting varying degrees of compliance across the league.
The Indian Club Licensing System is a crucial annual process designed to uphold the quality and professionalism of football clubs in India, ensuring they meet AFC and national competition standards.
The immediate implications of these licensing decisions are yet to be fully understood, but they cast a shadow over the immediate future of several established ISL franchises, adding another layer of intrigue to the ongoing football landscape in India.