The Indian Super League (ISL) 2026-27 season features 14 clubs from across India, competing in a full home-and-away format that begins on 4 September 2026.
The league returns to this traditional structure after the previous season used a shortened format, giving every club a home and an away fixture against each opponent.
This guide covers every participating club, its home city, and what to expect from each side during the season, so fans have a single place to check the full team list before the fixtures are announced.
Indian Super League 2026-27 Teams at a Glance
Here is a quick snapshot of the season before the full club list and profiles.
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Competition | Indian Super League |
| Season | 2026-27 |
| Number of Teams | 14 |
| Defending Champions | East Bengal FC |
| Newly Promoted Club | Diamond Harbour FC |
| Season Start | 4 September 2026 |
The league draws clubs from major football regions across India, from Kolkata and the Northeast to the South, West, and North. That spread is one of the reasons the ISL is followed closely in so many different states.
Complete List of Indian Super League 2026-27 Teams
Here is the full list of clubs confirmed to compete in the ISL 2026-27 season, along with their home cities.
| Club | Home City |
|---|---|
| Bengaluru FC | Bengaluru |
| Chennaiyin FC | Chennai |
| Diamond Harbour FC | Diamond Harbour |
| East Bengal FC | Kolkata |
| FC Goa | Goa |
| Inter Kashi | Varanasi |
| Jamshedpur FC | Jamshedpur |
| Kerala Blasters FC | Kochi |
| Mohun Bagan Super Giant | Kolkata |
| Mumbai City FC | Mumbai |
| NorthEast United FC | Guwahati |
| Odisha FC | Bhubaneswar |
| Punjab FC | New Delhi |
| Sporting Club Delhi | New Delhi |
Indian Super Legaue 2026-27 – Team-by-Team Guide
Each of the 14 clubs brings its own identity, playing style, and set of expectations for the season ahead. Below is a short profile of every team, covering its background, strengths, and outlook for 2026-27.
Bengaluru FC
Bengaluru FC represents Bengaluru, Karnataka, and is one of the most successful clubs in modern Indian football. Founded in 2013, the club quickly established itself as a major force in domestic competitions before becoming part of the Indian Super League.
Bengaluru FC plays its home matches at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, one of the country’s most recognised football venues.
The club has won several domestic honours and is known for its professional management, strong youth development programme, and consistent performances at the national level.
With an experienced football structure and an established fan base, Bengaluru FC remains one of the prominent clubs competing in the Indian Super League 2026-27 season
Chennaiyin FC
Chennaiyin FC represents Chennai, Tamil Nadu, and has been part of the Indian Super League since the competition’s inaugural season in 2014. The club plays its home matches at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai and has enjoyed success in the league by winning multiple ISL titles.
Chennaiyin FC has built a strong football following across southern India and continues to be one of the league’s recognised clubs.
Over the years, the club has featured several notable Indian and international footballers while contributing to the growth of professional football in the region. Chennaiyin FC enters the 2026-27 season as one of the established teams in the competition.
Diamond Harbour FC
Diamond Harbour FC will compete in its first Indian Super League season after earning promotion from the Indian Football League. Based in Diamond Harbour, West Bengal, the club secured promotion through its performances during the 2025-26 campaign.
The club’s inclusion in the ISL reflects the continued expansion of Indian football and provides another representative from West Bengal in the country’s top division. Diamond Harbour FC joins the league alongside several experienced clubs and will become the newest member of the 14-team competition. The 2026-27 campaign marks an important milestone in the club’s history as it begins competing at the highest level of Indian club football.
East Bengal FC
East Bengal FC is one of the oldest and most successful football clubs in India. Based in Kolkata, West Bengal, the club has a history spanning more than a century and enjoys one of the largest football fan bases in the country.
East Bengal enters the 2026-27 Indian Super League season as the defending champions, having won the 2025-26 ISL title. The club plays its home matches at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium) and has won numerous domestic honours across different competitions.
Its rich football tradition and long-standing rivalry with Mohun Bagan Super Giant remain among the biggest attractions in Indian football.
FC Goa
FC Goa represents the state of Goa, one of India’s traditional football strongholds. Since joining the Indian Super League in 2014, the club has consistently been among the league’s competitive sides and has earned recognition for its attractive style of football.
FC Goa plays its home matches at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda and has won several domestic honours over the years.
The club has also represented Indian football in continental competitions, helping raise its profile beyond domestic tournaments.
With a strong football culture and an established identity, FC Goa remains one of the key participants in the 2026-27 ISL season.
Inter Kashi
Inter Kashi is based in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, and represents one of the newer football projects in Indian professional football.
The club was established with the aim of promoting football in a region that has traditionally had limited representation at the highest level of the sport. Inter Kashi’s participation in the Indian Super League highlights the league’s expanding geographical reach and growing interest in football across northern India.
The club continues to build its football identity through investment in players, coaching, and development programmes. Its inclusion in the 2026-27 season adds another important football market to India’s top-tier competition.
Jamshedpur FC
Jamshedpur FC represents Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, and has been part of the Indian Super League since 2017. Backed by the Tata Group, the club has established itself as an important part of Indian professional football through its organised football operations and investment in player development.
Jamshedpur FC plays its home matches at the JRD Tata Sports Complex, one of the country’s recognised football venues.
The club has enjoyed competitive performances in previous ISL seasons and continues to contribute to the development of football in eastern India. Its presence also strengthens the league’s representation across different regions of the country.
Kerala Blasters FC
Kerala Blasters FC represents Kochi, Kerala, and is one of the most popular clubs in the Indian Super League. Founded in 2014, the club has built a strong football identity through its passionate supporters and consistent presence in the league since its inaugural season.
Kerala Blasters play their home matches at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi, which regularly attracts some of the highest attendances in Indian football.
The club has reached the ISL final on multiple occasions and continues to play an important role in promoting football across Kerala. Its large fan base and long-standing presence make Kerala Blasters one of the league’s most recognised clubs in the 2026-27 season.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant
Mohun Bagan Super Giant represents Kolkata, West Bengal, and is one of the oldest football clubs in Asia, with a history dating back to 1889.
The club has won numerous domestic honours and remains one of the most successful names in Indian football. Mohun Bagan plays its home matches at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium) and enjoys one of the largest fan bases in the country.
Its historic rivalry with East Bengal is among the biggest rivalries in Indian sport and continues to attract widespread attention. Mohun Bagan Super Giant enters the 2026-27 Indian Super League season as one of the competition’s most established and accomplished clubs.
Mumbai City FC
Mumbai City FC represents Mumbai, Maharashtra, and has been part of the Indian Super League since the league’s inaugural season in 2014. The club plays its home matches at the Mumbai Football Arena, one of the country’s leading football venues.
Over the years, Mumbai City FC has developed into one of the league’s strongest clubs through consistent performances and success in domestic competitions. The club has also represented Indian football in continental tournaments, highlighting its progress at both national and international levels. With a stable football structure and a successful recent history, Mumbai City FC remains one of the leading clubs competing in the 2026-27 ISL season.
NorthEast United FC
NorthEast United FC is based in Guwahati, Assam, and represents all eight states of Northeast India in the Indian Super League.
Since joining the competition in 2014, the club has played an important role in promoting professional football across a region known for producing talented footballers.
NorthEast United plays its home matches at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati and enjoys strong support from fans throughout the Northeast.
The club’s presence provides valuable representation for the region in India’s highest level of club football. NorthEast United continues to contribute to the growth and popularity of the Indian Super League during the 2026-27 season.
Odisha FC
Odisha FC represents Bhubaneswar, Odisha, and has competed in the Indian Super League since relocating to the state ahead of the 2019-20 season.
The club plays its home matches at the Kalinga Stadium, one of India’s leading football venues that regularly hosts national and international tournaments.
Odisha FC has helped strengthen the football culture in the state while expanding the league’s presence in eastern India.
The club continues to invest in player development and professional football infrastructure as part of its long-term growth. Odisha FC remains an established participant in the Indian Super League and will compete again during the 2026-27 season.
Punjab FC
Punjab FC represents New Delhi in the Indian Super League while continuing the footballing legacy of Punjab.
Founded in 2005, the club has achieved success in Indian domestic football and earned promotion to the country’s top division through its performances in the Indian Football League.
Punjab FC plays its home matches in New Delhi and has developed a reputation for promoting young Indian footballers through its academy system.
The club’s participation strengthens the league’s representation from northern India and reflects the continued growth of professional football beyond traditional football centres. Punjab FC returns as one of the 14 participating clubs in the 2026-27 ISL season.
Sporting Club Delhi
Sporting Club Delhi represents New Delhi and is one of the clubs participating in the Indian Super League 2026-27 season. The club contributes to the growing football landscape in the national capital region and adds further representation from northern India in the country’s premier football competition.
Sporting Club Delhi continues to develop its football programme through participation in national competitions and investment in player development.
Its inclusion in the Indian Super League reflects the league’s broader geographical reach and commitment to expanding professional football across different regions of India. Sporting Club Delhi joins the 14-club line-up for the 2026-27 campaign as one of the league’s participating teams.
Club Representation Across India
The ISL 2026-27 season reflects the spread of football across the country. Kolkata alone is home to three clubs, East Bengal, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, and Diamond Harbour, which also plays its home games in the city.
South India is represented by Bengaluru FC, Chennaiyin FC, and Kerala Blasters FC, while Mumbai City FC and FC Goa carry the West.
Punjab FC and Sporting Club Delhi represent the North, NorthEast United FC represents the Northeast, and Jamshedpur FC, Odisha FC, and Inter Kashi extend the league’s footprint across the East and North-Central regions. This geographic mix is one of the reasons the ISL is followed in so many different parts of India.
Conclusion
The ISL 2026-27 season features 14 clubs from across India, combining historic names like East Bengal and Mohun Bagan Super Giant with established contenders such as Mumbai City and Bengaluru FC, alongside Diamond Harbour FC as an exciting newly promoted side.
With the league returning to a full home-and-away format from 4 September 2026, fans across the country have a long and competitive season to look forward to. Check back on this page for fixture updates as the season approaches.