Dhruv Sood, co-owner and CEO of Sporting Club Delhi, has voiced strong enthusiasm for the upcoming Indian Super League (ISL) 2026-27 season, noting a significant surge in football interest across the country. The club, which relocated from Hyderabad and rebranded from Hyderabad FC, completed a successful pilot phase from January to May in the ISL 2025-26 season.
Growing Football Craze in India
Speaking to ANI, Sood said, "We are very excited. This is our first full season. We've had a sort of a pilot run from January, February to May, and it was great to see people turn out. There's a new degree of football craze going around in the city and the country, so I'm hoping people also start focusing on Indian football and we'll try our best to get people engaged, get the city engaged."
The club aims to capitalize on this momentum to deepen fan engagement and promote Indian football at the grassroots and professional levels.
Club-Led Commercial Model Announced
At a press conference in New Delhi on Wednesday, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and the ISL Managing Committee—represented by FC Goa, NorthEast United FC, and Sporting Club Delhi—announced a major structural shift. Clubs will now hold commercial rights for the ISL, while the AIFF retains administrative control and oversight of key operational aspects. This move aligns with global best practices for a club-led commercial model.
M Satyanarayan, speaking at the conference, stated, "From our side, we are very committed to making this league one of the best in Asia. We are also keeping in mind the recent Supreme Court's order and the new National Sports Governance Act."
Dhruv Sood added, "In SC Delhi's first season, the Ministry did come forward and offered their full support to the league, with regard to the availability of stadiums. The AIFF also did their best to reduce the cost of the league."
Broadcast and Home-and-Away Format
Mandar Tamhane, CEO of NorthEast United FC, explained, "It will be a broadcast-driven model. We are moving towards a club-led model because both the clubs and the AIFF believe it is the right approach from the perspective of long-term commercial and financial sustainability."
The clubs will soon issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) to secure a broadcast partner and pursue sponsorships. The AIFF will send letters to all 14 clubs to confirm participation. The 2026-27 season will feature a full home-and-away format, ensuring every team plays a complete quota of matches.
Ravi Puskur, CEO of FC Goa, said, "We will have a full-fledged season where every team will play their respective home and away games in a full quota rather than having to play a truncated format. We look forward to working collectively with the AIFF to try and ensure that the league is as successful as it can be."
Scheduling Around International Windows
The league calendar will be planned around FIFA Men's International Match Windows (scheduled for September, October, November, and March) and AFC club competition schedules. This ensures optimal preparation for the national team and participating clubs like FC Goa and East Bengal FC in continental tournaments.
Regarding player release for national duty, Satyanarayan said, "We have already had several rounds of discussions with the clubs and requested them to release players for a longer period for the 'National Interest.' The earlier we move forward with the process, the better we can plan the scheduling. We are hopeful this will happen with the cooperation from the clubs, particularly as the league is now being run jointly by the clubs and the AIFF."
