The 11th season of the prestigious top-flight football competition of India, the Indian Super League (ISL), is all set to begin today, i.e., Friday, September 13, with an encounter involving last season’s finalists Mohun Bagan Super Giant and Mumbai City FC.
The ISL season opener will take place at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata. Additionally, Mumbai City FC enter the season as the most successful team in the event’s history. They have previously won the ISL League Shield and ISL Cup twice, with all of their victories coming in the last four seasons.
Notably, Mohammedan SC will make their debut in top-tier football. This means all three Kolkata heavyweights will now compete for the prized crown. Mohammedan SC progressed to the competition after winning the I-League the previous season.
With new teams, regulations, and locations, this season promises to be one of the most entertaining in ISL history. The attention will also be on teams like Kerala Blasters FC (KBFC), Bengaluru FC (BFC), East Bengal FC and others. However, NorthEast United FC, who made a lasting impression with their first-ever silverware triumph in the Durand Cup 2024, will also receive special attention.
Following last year’s structure, all 13 ISL teams will face each other at home and away. The ISL League Shield will be awarded to the leader at the completion of the league stage. The top six clubs in the final league table will advance to the ISL Cup knockout stage. In this, the first and second-placed teams will advance directly to the semi-finals, while the teams ranked third through sixth will fight in playoffs for the two remaining semi-final berths.
Where to Watch:
Viacom18, the Indian media conglomerate, owns the competition’s media rights. This means football fans can catch all the live action on Sports18 and the network’s OTT platform, JioCinema.