The Indian Super League returns in 2026-27 with 13 clubs and a restored home-and-away league season. East Bengal enter as defending champions after winning the shortened 2025-26 competition on goal difference, while Churchill Brothers join the field through the transfer of Jamshedpur’s football operation and sporting licence.
Squad building is still in progress. Some clubs have announced a long list of arrivals, but others have not released a final first-team registration list or confirmed their captain. This article therefore separates confirmed signings from retained players and pending information rather than presenting projected line-ups as final squads.
ISL 2026-27 Teams List
The 13-team field contains 12 clubs that played in the 2025-26 ISL plus Churchill Brothers.
Mohammedan Sporting suffered relegation, Diamond Harbour missed the participation-fee deadline despite earning promotion, and Jamshedpur will compete under a new identity.
| Club | Short Code | Base | 2025-26 Status | Captain Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Bengal FC | EBFC | Kolkata | Champions | Formal 2026-27 announcement pending |
| Mohun Bagan Super Giant | MBSG | Kolkata | 2nd | Formal announcement pending |
| Mumbai City FC | MCFC | Mumbai | 3rd | To be announced |
| Bengaluru FC | BFC | Bengaluru | 4th | Sunil Chhetri remains the established leader |
| Punjab FC | PFC | Mohali | 6th | To be announced |
| FC Goa | FCG | Goa | 7th | Sandesh Jhingan |
| Kerala Blasters FC | KBFC | Kochi | 8th | Formal announcement pending |
| NorthEast United FC | NEUFC | Guwahati | 9th | To be announced |
| Inter Kashi FC | IKFC | Varanasi | 10th | To be announced |
| Odisha FC | OFC | Bhubaneswar | 11th | To be announced |
| Sporting Club Delhi | SCD | Delhi | 12th | To be announced |
| Chennaiyin FC | CFC | Chennai | 13th | To be announced |
| Churchill Brothers FC Goa | CBFC | Goa | New via Jamshedpur transaction | To be announced |
ISL 2026-27 Foreign-Player and Squad Rules
The working foreign-player limit allows a club to register up to six overseas players and use no more than four in its starting XI.
An Overseas Citizen of India player is optional and, under the AIFF clarification issued in July, counts within the foreign-player quota.
| Squad Rule | Current Position |
|---|---|
| Foreign players registered | Maximum six |
| Foreign players in starting XI | Maximum four |
| OCI player | Optional; counts in foreign quota |
| Player recruitment | Club contracts and transfers; no auction |
| Final squad lists | Not yet published for every club |
The tables below are transfer and squad-status summaries, not final registration lists. Players who were already at a club are not classified as new signings simply because they remain important members of the team.
1. East Bengal FC
| Category | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Antonio López Habas |
| Recent captaincy | Mohammed Rashid has led the side; formal ISL announcement pending |
| Foreign arrivals | Dani Ramírez, Nacho Monsalve, Nsungusi Effiong, Chris Ikonomidis, Diego Živulić |
| Indian arrivals | Phurba Lachenpa, Boris Singh, Sandip Mandi, Rohit Kumar, Danish Farooq, Hardik Bhatt, Rohit Danu, Narender Gahlot, Asif Khan |
East Bengal are the defending champions after beating Mohun Bagan to the 2025-26 title on goal difference.
The arrivals cover every line of the team. Mohammed Rashid is an existing player and recent captain, not a new foreign signing.
2. Mohun Bagan Super Giant
| Category | Confirmed Information |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Panagiotis Dilmperis |
| Captain | Formal 2026-27 announcement pending |
| Foreign arrivals | Samir Zeljković, Miguel Figueira, Dejan Dražić |
| Indian arrivals | Lallianzuala Chhangte, Rahul Bheke, Sayan Banerjee, Alex Saji |
| Established players | Vishal Kaith, Subhasish Bose, Anirudh Thapa, Sahal Abdul Samad, Jamie Maclaren, Alberto Rodríguez |
Mohun Bagan finished second on goal difference and responded with another ambitious recruitment window.
Chhangte headlines the arrivals. Jamie Maclaren and Alberto Rodríguez remain important players but are not new 2026-27 signings.
3. Mumbai City FC
| Category | Confirmed Information |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Manolo Márquez |
| Captain | To be announced |
| Foreign arrivals | Carlos Delgado, Saúl Crespo, Sergio Llamas, Leandro Otormín, Wilmar Jordán Gil |
| Indian arrivals | Muhammed Ajsal, Ashish Sibi |
| Extensions reported | Vikram Partap Singh, Ahan Prakash, Sahil Panwar |
Third-placed Mumbai City appointed Manolo Márquez and concentrated on rebuilding their foreign spine.
Delgado reinforces defence, Crespo and Llamas reshape midfield, and Otormín and Jordán provide alternative centre-forward options.
4. Bengaluru FC
| Category | Confirmed Information |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Pep Muñoz |
| Captain / leader | Sunil Chhetri |
| Foreign arrivals | Borja Martínez, Manuel de Iriondo, Menno Koch, Mihailo Perović, Sandro Embaló |
| Retained young players | Harsh Palande, Soham Varshneya |
Fourth-placed Bengaluru remain under Pep Muñoz, with Sunil Chhetri leading a squad reinforced by five overseas arrivals.
Koch and Embaló refresh the defence, de Iriondo strengthens midfield, and Martínez and Perović add attacking options.
5. Punjab FC
| Category | Confirmed Information |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Pavlos Dermitzakis |
| Captain | To be announced |
| Foreign arrivals | Raphaël Messi Bouli, Patrick Bahanack, Alfred Planas |
| Indian arrivals | Mohammad Inam, Nishchal Chandan, Gurkirat Singh |
| Continuing players | Arshdeep Singh, Tekcham Abhishek Singh Lhungdim, Nikhil Prabhu |
Sixth-placed Punjab appointed Greek coach Pavlos Dermitzakis on a two-year contract.
Messi Bouli strengthens the forward line, Bahanack reinforces central defence and Planas supplies creativity after joining from Inter Kashi.
6. FC Goa
| Category | Confirmed Information |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Gouramangi Singh |
| Captain | Sandesh Jhingan |
| Foreign arrivals | Franchu, Álex Vallejo, Álex Zalaya, Chiki Borrero |
| Indian arrivals | Isak Vanlalruatfela, KC Malsawmsanga, Haobam Tomba Singh, Saveme Tariang, Rudra Ved, Haodamlian Vaiphei |
Seventh-placed FC Goa are led by Gouramangi Singh, with captain Sandesh Jhingan providing defensive continuity.
Franchu is Francisco Feuillassier, not a separate player. Chiki Borrero is the playing name of Christian Borrego Isabel.
7. Kerala Blasters FC
| Category | Confirmed Information |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Ashley Westwood expected to continue; final club confirmation awaited |
| Captain | Formal announcement pending |
| Key returnee | Adrián Luna, returning from loan |
| Incoming signings | No major first-team arrival officially established by August 28 |
Eighth-placed Kerala Blasters have moved more slowly than most rivals in the transfer market.
Luna’s return supplies creativity and leadership, but Kerala have not yet published a complete 2026-27 squad.
8. NorthEast United FC
| Category | Confirmed Information |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Juan Pedro Benali |
| Captain | To be announced |
| Foreign arrivals | Ethyan González, Antonio Moyano, Eneko Satrústegui, Nikola Ninković |
| Indian arrivals | Pramveer Singh, Mohanraj K, Abdul Rabeeh, Mark Zothanpuia |
| Established attacker | Alaaeddine Ajaraie |
Ninth-placed NorthEast United have responded with four new overseas players and several Indian prospects.
Ajaraie remains important but is an established NorthEast player, not a new signing.
9. Inter Kashi FC
| Category | Confirmed Information |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Antonio López Habas was the 2025-26 coach; 2026-27 status requires confirmation |
| Captain | To be announced |
| Incoming signings | None confirmed by August 28 |
| Recruitment status | Transfer ban reported over outstanding payments |
Tenth-placed Inter Kashi are preparing for their second ISL season, not their debut.
The reported transfer ban is connected to unpaid wages. With several departures, Inter Kashi’s final usable squad remains uncertain.
10. Odisha FC
| Category | Confirmed Information |
|---|---|
| Head coach | To be officially confirmed for 2026-27 |
| Captain | To be announced |
| Foreign arrivals | Giorgi Aburjania, Manu Molina, Stephen Eze, Everton Nascimento |
| Indian arrivals | Nihal Sudeesh, Imran Khan, Aashir Salim, Sachin Suresh, Nandhakumar Sekar |
Eleventh-placed Odisha have combined established Indian arrivals with a new foreign midfield and defensive group.
Aburjania and Molina reshape midfield, while Eze and Nascimento strengthen defence. Sachin Suresh and Nandhakumar are the notable Indian additions.
11. Sporting Club Delhi
| Category | Confirmed Information |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Tomasz Tchórz expected to continue; final ISL confirmation pending |
| Captain | To be announced |
| Foreign arrivals | Rodriguinho, David Richard Ndayishimiye, Duván Viáfara, Juan Peña, Nduka Junior |
| Indian arrivals | Lalrinliana Hnamte, Thokchom Diamond Singh |
| Continuing players | Mohammed Aimen, Mohammed Azhar, Nora Fernandes, Ashutosh Mehta, Joseph Sunny |
Twelfth-placed Sporting Club Delhi are returning after debuting in 2025-26 following Hyderabad FC’s relocation and rebranding.
Rodriguinho headlines the attack, Viáfara and Nduka Junior reinforce defence, and Ndayishimiye and Peña add midfield options.
12. Chennaiyin FC
| Category | Confirmed Information |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Clifford Miranda |
| Captain | To be announced |
| Foreign arrivals | Madih Talal, Nuno Reis, Nikola Stojanović, Emmanuel Imanishimwe |
| Indian arrivals | Brison Fernandes, Namgyal Bhutia, Ritwik Das, Ayush Dev Chhetri, Muhammed Saheef, Glan Martins, Shubham Rawat, Bryce Miranda, Dippendu Biswas |
Thirteenth-placed Chennaiyin have undertaken a major rebuild under Clifford Miranda.
Talal is the creative centrepiece, with Reis and Imanishimwe strengthening the back line and several Indian arrivals adding midfield depth.
13. Churchill Brothers FC Goa
| Category | Confirmed Information |
|---|---|
| Head coach | To be confirmed after completion of the transaction |
| Captain | To be announced |
| Foreign arrival | Sebastián Gutiérrez |
| New Indian arrivals | Moses Lalrinzuala, Dattaraj Gaonkar, Felixson Fernandes |
| Retained Churchill players | Stendly Fernandes, Anil Gaonkar, Kingslee Fernandes, Richard Costa, Lalremruata |
| Inherited contracts | Final public list pending |
Churchill enter through Tata Steel’s transfer of Jamshedpur’s company and sporting licence, including 12 player contracts and two coaching contracts.
The inherited names remain unpublished. Churchill’s first ISL group will combine that base with their retained and newly signed Goan players.
When Does the ISL 2026-27 Season Start?
The exact kickoff date has not been officially announced. On August 19, the All India Football Federation confirmed the 13-club field and the double round-robin format but said the starting date and fixtures would follow in a separate communication.
Reports have placed the opening in October, but the league has not confirmed October 10 as the start date. Treat it as a reported date until the AIFF or ISL publishes the official fixtures.
The competition is moving to a club-led commercial model. Participating clubs hold the commercial rights, while the AIFF retains administrative control and oversight of important operational matters. The clubs will meet one another home and away, giving each side 24 league matches.
ISL 2026-27 Format
The confirmed element is a 13-team double round-robin league. Every club plays the other 12 teams twice, once at home and once away, for 24 matches per side and 156 league fixtures in total.
The AIFF had not formally confirmed the playoff structure by August 28. Previous ISL seasons featured a League Shield and knockout playoffs, but the shortened 2025-26 season did not.
Key ISL 2026-27 Signings to Watch
Lallianzuala Chhangte’s move to Mohun Bagan is among the biggest domestic transfers, placing one of India’s leading wide players in an already deep attacking squad. East Bengal have added broadly after winning the title, with Phurba Lachenpa, Dani Ramírez and Chris Ikonomidis among the standout arrivals.
Mumbai City’s new foreign spine is another major storyline. Carlos Delgado, Saúl Crespo, Sergio Llamas, Leandro Otormín and Wilmar Jordán Gil give Manolo Márquez multiple ways to reshape the side. Chennaiyin’s capture of Madih Talal and Punjab’s addition of Raphaël Messi Bouli could be equally important for clubs trying to climb the table.
Conclusion: 13 Squads Will Battle For ISL 2026
The ISL 2026-27 field has 13 confirmed clubs, but the competition has not yet finalised every squad, captain or fixture. East Bengal are the defending champions, Inter Kashi and Sporting Club Delhi are returning for their second top-flight seasons, and Churchill Brothers are the only new club identity in the field.
The most accurate approach is to treat the lists above as confirmed squad activity through August 28, 2026. Update the kickoff date, playoff structure, captains and final player registrations once the AIFF, ISL and individual clubs issue their official announcements.
