Indian Sports News
Indian FootballIndian Super League

AIFF’s 15-Year ISL Tender Launched; But National Team Faces a ‘3-Year Void’

Shivansh Rana | 4 min read | 3 weeks ago | Oct 18, 2025 12:24 pm IST
AIFF's 15-Year ISL Tender Launched; But National Team Faces a '3-Year Void'

So, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) just dropped a massive 15-year commercial plan for the Indian Super League (ISL) on October 17, 2025. It looks great on paper, promising bigger investments and a better league structure. But here’s the million-dollar question: what about the Indian national team?

Key Takeaways

  • New ISL Structure: The AIFF issued a 15-year commercial tender for the ISL, requiring partners to invest in grassroots development.
  • National Team’s Void: India’s men’s team faces a “three-year void” with no major qualifiers until 2027 after failing to advance for the World Cup and Asian Cup.
  • Talent Crisis: Over 80% of top-league playing minutes come from just 35 districts, showing a massive failure in widespread talent development.
  • Club Discontent: ISL clubs sent a letter to AIFF accusing it of breaching trust right before the tender was announced.

The Big Money Plan vs. The Reality

Look, this new commercial structure is ambitious. It forces the commercial partner to contribute a percentage of gross revenues to grassroots football—starting at 2.5% for five years and then bumping up to 5% for the next ten. That sounds good, right? They’re also finally bringing in promotion and relegation between the ISL and I-League from the 2025-26 season, with “parachute payments” for teams that get dropped.

But while the business side of things seems to be moving, the actual sport is hitting a wall. A really big one. The senior national team has failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup and the 2027 Asian Cup. This means they’re facing a devastating “three-year void” from any meaningful international action. Three years. Just let that sink in.

Where Are the Players Coming From?

Here’s where it gets even more concerning. A study by former AIFF Youth Development head Richard Hood uncovered a shocking statistic. Over the last 11 seasons, more than 80% of professional playing minutes in India’s top leagues came from just 35 districts. That’s a tiny 7.4% of the population producing almost all our professional footballers. It’s not a talent pool; it’s a talent puddle.

Get the Latest Updates

Be part of our sports community for daily news, expert analysis, and insider info.

Join on Telegram Join on WhatsApp

And what’s the plan to fix this? Well, a crucial AIFF-FIFA Coaching Capacity-Building Programme in Kolkata was just cancelled on October 13, 2025. You can’t make this stuff up. How are you supposed to develop talent nationwide if you can’t even get coaching programs off the ground?

Expert Analysis

The core issue is a “fractured vision.” There’s a constant tug-of-war between the ISL clubs, who want to protect their schedules, and the national team’s needs. This conflict directly impacts how the national team prepares and performs. It’s a classic case of the left hand not knowing what the right is doing.

Social Media Storm

The frustration is boiling over. Just before the new tender was announced, ISL clubs sent a strongly-worded letter to the AIFF, accusing them of breaching trust and delaying commitments. On top of that, Real Kashmir FC just withdrew from the AIFF Super Cup, citing financial problems and visa issues for their foreign players. It shows a deep-seated lack of confidence in the system.

What Happens Next?

The bids for this new commercial tender are set to open on November 5, 2025. It promises a new era for the ISL. But honestly, will more money solve these foundational problems? Will it magically widen the talent pool or fix the disconnect between the league and the national team?

With the national team on ice until 2027, these are the questions the AIFF needs to answer. What do you think? Can this new plan save Indian football, or is it just papering over the cracks?