 | |
| Organising bodies | AIFF and FSDL |
|---|---|
| Founded | 21 October 2013 |
| Country | India |
| Confederation | AFC |
| Number of teams | 13 |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Domestic cup(s) | |
| International cup(s) | |
| Current champions | Mumbai City (2nd title) |
| Current premiers | Mohun Bagan SG (1st title) |
| Most championships | ATK (3 titles) |
| Most premierships | Mumbai City (2 titles) |
| Most appearances | Pritam Kotal Amrinder Singh (167) |
| Top goalscorer | Sunil Chhetri (64) |
| TV partners | Sports18 JioCinema International: OneFootball |
| Website | indiansuperleague.com |
| Current: 2024–25 Indian Super League | |
The Indian Super League (ISL) is the men's highest level of the Indian football league system. Administered by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and its commercial partner Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL),[1][2] the league is currently contested by 13 clubs.
The season runs from September to March and includes a 24-round regular season followed by playoffs involving the top six teams, culminating with the ISL Final to determine the ISL Cup winners. At the end of the regular season, the team with the most points is declared the ISL champions and presented with the League Winners' Shield. Until the 2021–22 season, the ISL Cup winners were designated as champions but from the 2022–23 season, the champions designation was given to table toppers instead of playoff champions.[3]
Currently, the league only follows promotion in the promotion and relegation processes. ISL clubs qualify for the Asian continental club competitions; League Shield winners qualify directly for the subsequent season's AFC Champions League Two group stage.
The competition was founded on 21 October 2013 to grow the sport of football in India and increase its exposure in the country. Play began in October 2014 with eight teams. During its first three seasons, the competition operated without official recognition from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the governing body for the sport in Asia. It was structured along the same lines as the Indian Premier League, the country's premier Twenty20 franchise-based cricket competition. Each season lasted just three months, from October to December, and matches were held daily. However, before the 2017–18 season, the league expanded to ten teams with Jamshedpur FC and Bengaluru FC joining in, expanded its schedule to six months, and earned recognition from the AFC. ATK Mohun Bagan and East Bengal joined the league in 2020–21 season. With ATK disbanding, the 2020–21 season had 11 clubs competing.
The ISL attained the sole top-tier league status from the 2022–23 season, with the I-League demoted to the second tier. The 2023–24 season saw a promoted team from the I-League participating in the ISL for the first time ever. Punjab FC, as the 2022–23 I-League champions, became the 12th team in the league. The following year, Mohammedan SC joined the league as the 13th club as champions of the I-League.
Since the league's inaugural season, six clubs have won the ISL Cup title: ATK (3), Chennaiyin (2), Mumbai City (2), Bengaluru FC (1), Hyderabad FC (1) and Mohun Bagan SG (1).
Since the introduction of the League Winners' Shield in the 2019–20 season, Mumbai City has won it twice, while FC Goa, Jamshedpur FC and Mohun Bagan SG have won it one time each.
- ^ "About ISL – Indian Super League". Archived from the original on 14 October 2022. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
- ^ "AIFF, FSDL close to take final call on ISL 2021-22 schedule". khelnow.com. 16 March 2021. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
- ^ "ISL Champions badge awarded to ISL Shield winners; Mumbai City FC to wear the badge in the 2023-24 season". Sportskeeda.com.