2026/27 ISL to have 13 clubs, Diamond Harbour FC excluded

The Indian Super League (ISL) for the 2026/27 season will consist of 13 clubs, excluding Diamond Harbour FC. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) did not explicitly disclose which club has been removed, but it is widely reported that Diamond Harbour FC will not be participating. Diamond Harbour FC secured promotion to the ISL last season by winning the Indian Football League (IFL).

The AIFF has announced that the league will follow a double round-robin format, potentially eliminating the knockout stage that typically concludes the season. The federation made this announcement on August 19, 2026. The league's kickoff date is yet to be determined. Diamond Harbour FC missed the deadline to pay the second instalment of the participation fee required for the ISL.

The club is currently non-functional and faces an uncertain future after the 2026 West Bengal legislative assembly elections. The general secretary of Trinamool Congress, Abhishek Banerjee, is reportedly the 'chief patron' of the club. Diamond Harbour FC made headlines last season for reaching the final of the Durand Cup, beating East Bengal, who subsequently won their first top-flight league title in 22 years in the semifinal. They also won the IFL, which was contested in two stages, finishing with 12 points from nine games.