The Indian Football League (IFL) 2026-27 season will feature 11 clubs from across India, competing in the country’s top-tier domestic football competition.

The season begins on 16 October 2026, as confirmed by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) Governing Council following its meeting on 27 July 2026.

Every participating club brings its own history, playing style and level of ambition into the new campaign, ranging from decorated names with a long history of domestic honours to newer sides still building their identity in Indian football.

This guide introduces each of the 11 clubs competing in the IFL 2026-27 season, along with their home state, recent performance, key strengths and what to expect from them through the campaign.

Complete List of Indian Football League 2026-27 Teams

Here is the complete list of clubs confirmed for the IFL 2026-27 season, along with the state and home city each club represents.

Club	State	Home City
Aizawl FC	Mizoram	Aizawl
FC Bengaluru United	Karnataka	Bengaluru
Chanmari FC	Mizoram	Aizawl
Delhi FC	Delhi	New Delhi
Dempo SC	Goa	Panaji
Gokulam Kerala FC	Kerala	Kozhikode
Mohammedan Sporting Club	West Bengal	Kolkata
Rajasthan United FC	Rajasthan	Jaipur
Real Kashmir FC	Jammu & Kashmir	Srinagar
Shillong Lajong FC	Meghalaya	Shillong
Sreenidi Deccan FC	Telangana	Hyderabad

Each of these clubs is covered in more detail below, including their recent form, strengths and what to expect from them this season.

Team-by-Team Guide

The sections below take a closer look at each club competing in the IFL 2026-27 season, covering their background, recent form and the challenges they are likely to face over the course of the campaign.

Aizawl FC

Aizawl FC represents Mizoram and plays its home matches at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Aizawl, which has a capacity of 20,000. The club has built its reputation on producing young Mizo talent and enjoys one of the most passionate fan bases in Northeast Indian football.

Strong local support and a steady pipeline of homegrown players remain the club’s biggest strengths heading into 2026-27.

The challenge for Aizawl FC will be turning that grassroots talent into consistent results against clubs with bigger squads and infrastructure. Fans can expect a team built around local players and high-energy home fixtures, with the club looking to hold its ground as one of the more established Northeast sides in the league.

FC Bengaluru United

FC Bengaluru United is one of the newer clubs in the league, based out of the Bangalore Football Stadium, which holds around 8,400 spectators.

The club has grown quickly since entering India’s football structure and has built its identity around developing local Karnataka talent rather than relying heavily on established names.

This focus on nurturing homegrown players is its clearest strength, though it also means the squad is still building the depth and experience that older clubs already have.

The 2026-27 season will test how well the club can compete against more established sides while staying true to its development-first approach. Expect a young, ambitious team looking to establish itself further in the top flight.

Chanmari FC

Chanmari FC is the second Mizoram-based club in the IFL 2026-27 season and shares its home venue, the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Aizawl, with Aizawl FC.

The club has a track record of competitive performances in the league and continues to represent the depth of footballing talent coming out of the Northeast.

Its familiarity with conditions in the region and a settled local fan base give it a solid foundation each season. The main challenge will be standing out in a league where Northeast clubs are well represented and competition for points is tight.

Chanmari FC is expected to once again field a squad built largely around regional players this season.

Delhi FC

Delhi FC represents the national capital and plays its home games at the Ambedkar Stadium, which can hold up to 35,000 spectators.

Being based in Delhi gives the club access to strong infrastructure and a large potential fan base compared with several other IFL clubs. That said, a bigger stadium alone does not guarantee results, and the club will need to convert its resources into on-field consistency through the season.

Building a settled squad and drawing strong crowds at a stadium of that scale will be Delhi FC’s key focus in 2026-27. Fans can expect the club to lean on its infrastructure advantage as it looks to establish a firmer footing in the league.

Dempo SC

Dempo SC, based in Goa, is one of the most decorated clubs in Indian football history, with multiple national-level titles to its name over the years.

The club has traditionally been associated with attractive, possession-based football and a strong focus on developing young players through its academy system.

That legacy remains Dempo’s biggest strength, along with the experience of competing at the top level over a long period. The challenge for 2026-27 will be matching that historic reputation with current form, especially as other clubs invest more heavily in squad building.

Expect Dempo SC to be talked about as one of the traditional heavyweights capable of challenging near the top of the table.

Gokulam Kerala FC

Gokulam Kerala FC, based in Kozhikode, has been one of the most consistent performers in recent IFL seasons and is regularly mentioned among the league’s title contenders.

The club has built its squad around a healthy mix of experienced Indian players and foreign signings, which has helped it stay competitive year after year.

That consistency and squad balance are the club’s biggest strengths going into the new season. The challenge will be adapting to the new rule limiting foreign players in the starting line-up, which could affect how the team is set up.

Given its recent form, Gokulam Kerala FC is expected to be one of the sides to watch through the 2026-27 campaign.

Mohammedan Sporting Club

Mohammedan Sporting Club is one of the oldest and most historic football clubs in Kolkata, carrying a legacy that spans well over a century and a large, loyal fan base across West Bengal. Despite not sending representatives to the Governing Council meeting on 27 July 2026, the club remains part of the confirmed IFL 2026-27 line-up.

Its history and fan support are clear strengths, but the club will need to translate that legacy into stronger league performances, an area that has needed improvement in recent seasons. How the club manages its squad building and preparation ahead of the season will be worth watching.

Given its stature, Mohammedan Sporting Club’s matches are likely to draw strong crowds regardless of league position.

Rajasthan United FC

Rajasthan United FC gives the league its representation from Western India and has shown steady progress since joining the competition.

The club has built a reputation for improving year on year, which points to a well-organised set-up behind the scenes.

That upward trajectory is its main strength heading into 2026-27, though it will need to keep that momentum going against clubs with longer histories in the competition. The challenge will be turning steady progress into genuine title contention.

Expect Rajasthan United FC to continue building on recent seasons rather than making a dramatic jump in a single campaign.

Real Kashmir FC

Real Kashmir FC, known as the Snow Leopards, plays its home matches in Srinagar under conditions that are often more challenging than what most other IFL clubs face. The club has built a strong defensive identity over the years and enjoys one of the most passionate fan followings in the league.

That defensive solidity and home support are Real Kashmir’s biggest assets. The recurring challenge is weather and travel logistics, which can affect scheduling and match preparation more than for most other clubs. Expect Real Kashmir FC to once again be a difficult side to beat at home through the 2026-27 season.

Shillong Lajong FC

Shillong Lajong FC, one of the pioneering clubs from Northeast India, finished as runners-up in the 2025-26 IFL season, which makes it one of the stronger sides heading into the new campaign.

The club has a well-regarded youth academy and a long-standing football culture in Meghalaya that continues to produce talent for the league. That academy pipeline, combined with last season’s form, gives Shillong Lajong a solid platform.

The challenge will be going one step further and converting a strong season into the title itself. Given how close they came last season, expect Shillong Lajong FC to be one of the genuine contenders in 2026-27.

Sreenidi Deccan FC

Sreenidi Deccan FC, based in Hyderabad, has established itself as a well-organised and ambitious club in a relatively short time.

The team has been a consistent performer in recent seasons and is often mentioned among the more professionally run set-ups in the league.

That organisation and consistency are the club’s clear strengths going into 2026-27. The challenge will be sustaining that level over a full season and converting steady performances into a genuine push for the top of the table. Expect Sreenidi Deccan FC to again be competitive and difficult to beat on its day.

New Rule Affecting All Teams

One rule will shape team selection across the league this season. Every club can now field a maximum of three foreign players in its starting line-up, a change confirmed by the AIFF Governing Council to increase playing time for Indian footballers.

This applies equally to all 11 clubs, regardless of squad size or past reliance on foreign signings. Clubs that have traditionally built their teams around foreign talent, such as Gokulam Kerala FC, will need to adjust their starting XI strategy the most. For most other clubs, the rule is expected to open up more opportunities for Indian players across the season.

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