The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Thursday confirmed that the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has officially recognised the shortened 2025–26 Indian Super League (ISL) season. However, due to the reduced number of matches, clubs from India will not receive direct entry into continental competitions this term.
According to the AIFF, winners of the ISL and the Super Cup will be awarded indirect slots for the AFC Champions League 2, meaning they must progress through zonal qualifiers rather than gaining automatic qualification.
The decision follows a delayed start to the ISL season, which forced organisers to compress the fixture list. As a result, clubs will fall short of the AFC’s minimum requirement of 24 matches across league and cup competitions for direct continental qualification. Under the revised format, teams are expected to play only 16 matches — 13 in the ISL and at least three in the Super Cup.
In a letter dated January 15, the AFC explained that member associations failing to meet eligibility criteria would only be allocated indirect slots. AFC deputy general secretary Shin Man Gil clarified that in such cases, direct slots are fully converted into indirect ones — for example, a 2+1 allocation becomes 0+3.
The 2025–26 ISL season is scheduled to begin on February 14, with all 14 clubs set to participate. The league will feature 91 matches, played in a single-leg format, after months of uncertainty caused by unresolved commercial and financial issues that had put the season on hold.
Earlier, ISL clubs had urged the AIFF to seek a one-time relaxation of the AFC’s minimum match requirement. Acting on the request, AIFF deputy secretary general M. Satyanarayan formally appealed to the AFC, citing exceptional circumstances and requesting that 16 matches be deemed sufficient for direct qualification. The appeal also asked that the ISL and Super Cup together be considered adequate to retain India’s direct slots.
Despite the request, the AFC decided to strictly apply its regulations for the season. The AIFF has since begun logistical preparations for the league, including finalising venues and broadcast arrangements, as Indian football looks to restart its top-tier competition after a challenging period.
While AFC recognition ensures the ISL’s continuity on the continental stage, the absence of direct qualification underscores the impact of this season’s disruptions on Indian clubs’ ambitions in Asia.
