Indian Football League 2026-27 Season to Kick Off on October 16

The Indian Football League (IFL) 2026-27 season will officially begin on October 16, with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) introducing a significant change to its foreign player policy to promote greater opportunities for Indian footballers.

At the IFL Governing Council meeting held at Football House in New Delhi on Monday, it was decided that clubs will be permitted to field a maximum of three foreign players in the starting line-up during matches. The move is aimed at increasing playing time for domestic talent and strengthening the development of Indian football.

Representatives from 10 of the 11 participating clubs attended the meeting, with Mohammedan Sporting Club being the only team not represented.

The Governing Council and the AIFF also reviewed the league's performance during the 2025-26 season, which, despite being a shortened campaign, attracted 17.56 million live television viewers, reflecting sustained fan interest and growing popularity.

In another major decision focused on long-term player development, all participating clubs agreed to enrol in the AIFF Academy Accreditation Programme. Under the roadmap, clubs must obtain a minimum two-star academy accreditation before the 2027-28 season and further upgrade their youth systems to achieve at least a three-star accreditation by 2030.

AIFF Deputy Secretary General M Satyanarayan said the meeting assessed the previous season's performance, including broadcast reach and financial expenditure, while also discussing the roadmap and proposed budgets for the upcoming campaign.

"We are pleased that the start date has now been confirmed, and we will work together towards delivering a successful 2026-27 season," Satyanarayan said.

The decisions underline the AIFF's focus on improving the league's competitiveness while placing greater emphasis on youth development and providing more opportunities for Indian players to excel at the highest domestic level.