The Indian Super League, usually called the ISL, is India’s top-tier men’s domestic football league. The 2026–27 season started on 10 October 2026 and has 13 participating clubs. This guide explains the current teams, how to follow Indian Super League games, where to check the ISL points table and how to find match tickets.
What is the Indian Super League?
The ISL brings professional clubs from different parts of India into the same domestic competition. It is club football: Bengaluru FC, East Bengal FC and Kerala Blasters FC are club teams, rather than national sides playing for India.
The competition’s first match was played on 12 October 2014. The All India Football Federation’s league overview records its recognition as India’s top-tier domestic league in October 2019. The current season is promoted as the MG Indian Super League. Older reports may use earlier sponsor names, so a familiar league name does not necessarily mean the information on that page is current.
For a new supporter, the easiest starting point is one club and its next match. Learn its home venue, follow a few players and check the fixture list before trying to understand every transfer or historical trophy record.
Indian Super League Teams in 2026–27
The current official ISL clubs directory lists these 13 participating teams:
1. Bengaluru FC
2. Chennaiyin FC
3. Churchill Brothers
4. East Bengal FC
5. FC Goa
6. Inter Kashi FC
7. Kerala Blasters FC
8. Mohun Bagan Super Giant
9. Mumbai City FC
10. NorthEast United FC
11. Odisha FC
12. Punjab FC
13. Sporting Club Delhi
Some older pages and third-party squad databases still show 14 clubs. The season-specific AIFF announcement confirms 13 participating clubs, which is the relevant count for this guide.
There are changes beyond the number of teams. ESPN’s season preview explains that Churchill Brothers took over Jamshedpur FC’s ISL rights, while Diamond Harbour did not take up its place in the competition. It also notes that Inter Kashi’s home matches are being played at Balewadi in Pune. That is a useful reminder: a club’s name or regional identity does not guarantee where its next home fixture will take place.
Always check the match venue rather than booking travel from the team name alone.
How does the ISL Season Work?
AIFF confirmed a double round-robin, home-and-away format for 2026–27. Each participating club meets every other club twice, once at home and once away. With 13 clubs, that means 24 league matches per club under the announced format.
League results contribute to the points table. A win earns three points, a draw earns one and a defeat earns none. For example, two wins and one draw produce seven points. Playing more matches can temporarily put a club ahead of another team that has a game in hand.
The playoff question needs care. ESPN reported that clubs were preparing for the return of playoffs this season. However, the current official table-regulations section reviewed for this guide did not provide the complete 2026–27 playoff bracket or final dates. Do not apply an older season’s semifinal schedule to this one. Check the official league regulations for updated details.
How to Read the ISL Match Table
The official ISL standings page is the direct place to check the current table. Searches for “ISL match table” usually refer to these league standings rather than the fixture calendar.
The main abbreviations are:
1. P or MP: matches played.
2. W, D and L: wins, draws and losses.
3. GF and GA: goals scored and goals conceded.
4. GD: goal difference, calculated by subtracting goals conceded from goals scored.
5. Pts: league points.
During the season, the current regulations rank teams first by points, then overall goal difference and goals scored. Final-table ties use further criteria, including results between the tied clubs.
At the time of the 30 October check, NorthEast United and Punjab FC had seven points from three matches. East Bengal, Bengaluru and Mohun Bagan Super Giant had six points, but had not all played the same number of games. These are early-season positions, not a prediction of the eventual champions.
Upcoming Indian Super League Games
The official ISL fixture calendar listed these near-term games when this guide was checked:
1. 30 October: NorthEast United FC vs Bengaluru FC. Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Guwahati. The official match preview confirms a 7:30 PM IST kickoff.
2. 31 October: Chennaiyin FC vs Kerala Blasters FC. Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai.
3. 31 October: Mohun Bagan Super Giant vs Punjab FC. Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata.
4. 1 November: Mumbai City FC vs Sporting Club Delhi. Mumbai Football Arena, Mumbai.
Check the individual fixture for kickoff time and any venue change. The Guwahati time above is explicitly confirmed in IST; the other examples are listed without a time here rather than assigning an unlabeled calendar value to the wrong timezone.
If you are reading after these dates, use the linked calendar for the next Indian Super League games instead of treating this shortlist as upcoming.
Indian Super League Tickets: Where should you Start?
Start with the home club’s official ticket announcement. The fixture calendar establishes who is playing and where, but does not automatically confirm ticket stock or the seller for every match.
For a current example, NorthEast United’s club announcement directed supporters to BookMyShow for its 2026–27 ISL tickets. The corresponding NorthEast United ticket page identifies the season’s event. Match-level prices and available seats were not confirmed during this guide’s check, so neither is quoted here.
Before paying, match the opponent, date and stadium against the official fixture. Then read the conditions for your selected category. Check whether you need a mobile ticket or physical collection, which gate your stand uses and whether children need separate admission. These conditions can differ between venues.
A season pass and a single-match ticket are different purchases. Check the covered games rather than assuming a pass includes every competition the club enters. Save the confirmation and use the seller’s published support route if the booking details are unclear.
Where to Watch ISL Live and Highlights
The official league’s current-season promotion names YouTube, Sony Sports Network and SonyLIV as viewing destinations. Its Guwahati match preview also directs viewers to the MG ISL YouTube channel and Sony Sports Network.
Use the official MG Indian Super League YouTube channel to find its match streams, highlights and replays. ESPN’s 2026–27 preview reports free viewing on the league’s YouTube channel, with television coverage on Sony Sports and streaming on SonyLIV. Check the individual listing for access conditions and regional availability.
A highlights video is an edited recap. A replay is a recording of the match, while a scheduled live stream is tied to kickoff. Check the season and upload title so an older video does not get mistaken for today’s game.
Watch the Official Current-Season Video
Watch “MG ISL 13 – #WeAreOpen” on the official league channel.
This is the league’s 2026–27 promotional video, not a match broadcast. The organiser-hosted video page provides another route to it.
Going to your First ISL Match
Plan around the gate-opening instructions, not only kickoff. Leave time for security checks and finding your stand. A seat behind the goal gives a different view from a sideline seat, so look at the seating plan before choosing.
Check the venue’s rules for bags, food, bottles and permitted items. Do not assume a rule from another stadium applies. If you need accessible seating, ask the club or ticketing support about the actual arrangements before buying.
What to Follow beyond the Final Score
The first weeks of 2026–27 have already offered different kinds of games. The official Guwahati preview notes that NorthEast United entered the Bengaluru fixture unbeaten after a 0–0 draw with Odisha. Bengaluru’s previous match was a 2–0 win over Chennaiyin, with goals from Ryan Williams and Mihailo Perović.
Those results give you useful questions to watch: can Bengaluru create chances against NorthEast’s defence, and can NorthEast turn its attacking runs into clear opportunities? This is a better way to follow a match than judging a side only by its current table position.
Over several games, look at chances created, defensive mistakes and how substitutions change the contest. Use the score, the match report and the highlights together; none gives the complete picture on its own.
Common ISL Questions
Is the Indian Super League the same as the IPL?
No. The ISL is a football competition. The Indian Premier League, or IPL, is a cricket competition. Their teams, rules and fixture calendars are separate.
Are Indian Super League tickets free?
Do not assume stadium admission is free because a match can be watched online. Check the home club’s announcement and the ticket category. This guide does not confirm a universal ticket price or free-entry policy.
How many Indian Super League teams are playing this season?
There are 13 participating clubs in 2026–27, according to the dated AIFF announcement and the current official clubs directory.
Where can I get more sports articles on SkyExchLive?
Visit the SkyExchLive sports blog for the site’s other articles. This guide links to official ISL sources for fixtures, standings and viewing details; it is not an official league ticketing or broadcast page.