IFL season to begin on October 30 with three-foreign-player rule

The Indian Football League will begin its 2026-27 season on October 30, with the Governing Council approving a three-foreign-player limit. Nagaland and Odisha will join as new venues, while IFL viewership was reported to have quadrupled from 2024-25

Hyderabad: The Governing Council of the Indian Football League (IFL) met in Delhi on Tuesday with representatives of all 11 participating clubs in attendance. It reviewed the 2025-26 IFL season, with the viewership figures and overall broadcast performance described as hugely encouraging.

The meeting noted that viewership for the IFL was four times higher than in the 2024-25 season.

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The Governing Council confirmed that the 2026-27 IFL season will commence on October 30, 2026.

The Governing Council also approved a regulation permitting a maximum of three foreign players on the pitch at a time during IFL matches in the upcoming season.

The Council also welcomed Nagaland and Odisha as new venues for the 2026-27 season, further expanding the league’s footprint across the country.

The IFL Charter for the upcoming season was discussed, along with the proposed budget and sponsorship packages.

AIFF Deputy Secretary General M Satyanarayan said, “It was a very cordial meeting, and we are happy that the new dates for the IFL season have now been confirmed. Last season, despite being a truncated campaign, the league generated a lot of interest, and the viewership figures were very encouraging. We are now looking forward to a full-fledged home-and-away season. With new entrants and new venues coming into the league, there is a lot to look forward to, and all of this will add to the excitement around the IFL.”

As part of preparations for the 2026-27 season, representatives of the IFL clubs and AIFF Deputy Secretary General M Satyanarayan also met Prasar Bharati CEO Gaurav Dwivedi in New Delhi on Monday, September 7. Discussions focused on the broadcast partnership for the upcoming season, with both sides hopeful of another successful collaboration.