The Indian Super League (ISL) is aiming to capitalise on huge domestic interest in the World Cup, even though India did not qualify, by launching a revamped and more stable season on 4 September. Club executives, including FC Goa's chief executive Ravi Puskur, hope the tournament's popularity will translate into sustained support for the domestic game after more than a year of turmoil that saw the league's future thrown into doubt.

The 2025-26 season was delayed by five months and reduced to just 13 games after the All India Football Federation failed to secure a new commercial partner following the end of its 15-year deal with Reliance, prompting clubs to suspend operations and players to leave. The new season will run a full eight months with a 26-game home-and-away schedule, and in a significant governance shift, the 14 clubs now control commercial, marketing and sponsorship rights themselves, while the AIFF retains administrative oversight. Officials, including former AIFF general secretary Shaji Prabhakaran, believe resolving these issues early and the current football buzz should make it easier to attract broadcasters and investment, twelve years after the ISL's star-studded 2014 launch.