Indian football fans will not need a subscription to follow their club this season. The Indian Super League (ISL) has announced that every one of the 163 matches of the 2026-27 season will stream live and free on YouTube, while Sony Sports Network returns as the television broadcaster and SonyLIV carries all games for its subscribers. The new season kicks off on Saturday, October 10.
It is a big change in how the league reaches its audience, and it comes after one of the most uncertain off-seasons Indian football has seen.
How to watch ISL 2026-27
The broadcast plan has three parts. YouTube is the free digital home of the league and will show all 163 matches live in India and for viewers abroad, along with highlights, Shorts, interviews and analysis. Sony Sports Network will telecast more than 80 matches on TV in India. SonyLIV, Sony's streaming app, will carry all 163 matches for paying subscribers.
| Season start | October 10, 2026 |
| Total matches | 163 (league plus playoffs) |
| Clubs | 13 |
| Free live stream | YouTube, all 163 matches |
| TV broadcast | Sony Sports Network, 80+ matches |
| Subscription stream | SonyLIV, all 163 matches |
| First phase | 78 matches, October 10 to January 17 |
| Defending champions | East Bengal |
ISL CEO Karan Yadav said the league wants to be "the most accessible league in the country," and that the new partnerships put the competition on both digital and broadcast platforms. Financial terms of the deals were not disclosed.
Why the free YouTube deal matters
Last season, the ISL streamed on FanCode, which required a paid pass. Moving to YouTube puts every match one tap away for anyone with a smartphone or smart TV. The league pointed to India's fast-growing connected-TV audience, which it put at 166 million monthly viewers, as one reason for the shift.
For Indian football, reach is everything. Viewership has struggled to keep pace with cricket, and clubs depend on visibility to attract sponsors. A free, easy-to-find stream could help the league win back casual fans, especially in football strongholds like Kolkata, Goa, Kerala and the North-East, where many supporters follow their clubs on their phones.
A season that almost did not start on time
The deal caps a turbulent few months. Earlier this year, a commercial-rights tender ran into trouble after clubs objected to the terms offered by the highest bidder. With contracts expiring, more than 150 players were reported to be without deals by early June, and some clubs struggled to prepare for continental competitions.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) and the ISL clubs eventually signed a four-year, club-led agreement in July. Two clubs then dropped out: Jamshedpur FC withdrew after missing the participation-fee deadline, and Diamond Harbour was barred after failing to pay its final instalment. In August, the AIFF confirmed the season would go ahead with 13 clubs.
The 13 clubs
Bengaluru FC, Chennaiyin FC, Churchill Brothers, Sporting Club Delhi, East Bengal, FC Goa, Inter Kashi, Kerala Blasters, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Mumbai City FC, NorthEast United, Odisha FC and Punjab FC.
Churchill Brothers enter the league after acquiring Jamshedpur's sporting licence, which also sets up the first-ever ISL Goa derby against FC Goa. Imphal's Khuman Lampak Stadium becomes a new ISL venue when NorthEast United host Sporting Club Delhi there on November 24.
Format: playoffs and relegation return
Every club plays the others twice, home and away. The top six qualify for the playoffs: the top two go straight into two-legged semi-finals, while teams placed third to sixth play single-leg knockout ties to join them. The final will be a one-off match hosted by the higher-ranked club. Relegation also applies this season, adding pressure at the bottom of the table.
Defending champions East Bengal begin the season as the team to beat after winning their first ISL title last season.
What fans should do now
- Subscribe to the ISL's official YouTube channel and switch on notifications so live matches show up on your feed.
- If you prefer the big screen, check the Sony Sports Network channel listings for televised fixtures.
- SonyLIV subscribers can watch every match on the app, including games not shown on TV.
- Check your club's fixtures for the first phase, which runs until January 17 with most games on weekends.
With free streaming, the return of playoffs and real relegation stakes, the 2026-27 season has a chance to reset Indian club football after a difficult year. The first test of that comes this weekend.
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