You could call it an administrative roadblock. The AIFF’s refusal to hand over the 2026-27 licence has seven clubs in limbo, barring them from competition until they get the green light. And it comes at a time when next season’s ISL is being put together and there is little room for error.
The Club Licensing Committee made its move on May 17. Some of the league’s top names were turned down while others were given their papers with some strings attached, ratcheting up the off-field tension as pre-season approaches.
Immediate stakes for title-chasing Mohun Bagan
For Mohun Bagan, it is a sore spot. They are still in the hunt for the 2025-2026 ISL crown, but if they don’t plug the holes in their compliance, they could be left on the sidelines for next year.
Then you have the rest of the story from the continent. After they chose not to make the trip to Iran for an ACL 2 fixture last year, the club was hit with a fine and a two-year ban. That makes any further missteps with the authorities all the more costly.
Why this matters beyond paperwork
This isn’t just a box-ticking exercise; licensing is the way Indian football separates the men from the boys. The AIFF looks at your books, your facilities, your youth setup and how you run the show before you are good to go for the ISL, I-League or anything in Asia.
What the rejection actually means
If you are rejected, it is because you haven’t come up to scratch on one of the non-negotiables. You are not eligible for 2026-27. But it is not a death sentence – there is a way back.
Who cleared, but with sanctions
Some did get through, albeit with conditions. East Bengal, Mumbai City and Punjab are in, as are NorthEast United, Bengaluru, FC Goa and Jamshedpur. It is a nod to partial compliance, provided they do the work to make it whole.
The seven without a licence
But the ones who didn’t make the cut are the ones making headlines. The AIFF panel has put Mohun Bagan at the top of that list, with Chennaiyin and Sporting Club Delhi in tow. Kerala Blasters, Inter Kashi, Odisha and Mohammedan round out the rejections.
It is a sign of how far and wide these shortfalls go, from old guard to the new kids on the block.
Under the AIFF’s rules, you have your Premier 1 for the ISL and Premier 2 for the I-League, a clear line to follow.
Clubs have been busy enough with the unknowns of the league’s commercial side, changes in ownership and the like. A licensing problem is another risk to manage when you have to build a squad and plan the calendar.
So for the supporters of the Blasters, Odisha and Chennaiyin, there is cause for worry. For Mohun Bagan, this is a make-or-break for what they want to achieve in the near future.
What the clubs can still do
Now it is a matter of process, but there is no time to waste. If they want to be in for 2026-27, the appeals and fixes have to happen in a hurry.
Despite the setback, AIFF regulations keep the door open. Rejected clubs retain the right to challenge the ruling and address gaps before the new season begins. These are the immediate options available:
– File an appeal against the committee’s decision
– Submit additional documents to close compliance gaps
– Request an exemption for national competition entry
– Resolve infrastructure or financial issues within timelines
– Remain ineligible until any clearance is granted
