Jamshedpur FC withdraws from Indian Super League 2026-27 season; all you need to know
The decision follows the club missing key deadlines set by the All India Football Federation for confirming participation and paying the first installment of the league fee under the new club-led structure.
Jamshedpur FC has confirmed it will step away from the Indian Super League (ISL) beginning with the 2026-27 campaign. The Tata Steel-owned club made the announcement on Friday, ending its nine-year run in India’s top-tier football competition.
The decision follows the club missing key deadlines set by the All India Football Federation for confirming participation and paying the first installment of the league fee under the new club-led structure.
Club statement on future plans
Jamshedpur Football And Sporting Private Limited (JFSPL), the company that runs the club, stressed it remains dedicated to Indian football in different ways.
“We will continue in our endeavour to to promote and develop the game of football, including at the grassroots level. We will continue to identify and develop young football talent across India to create a strong pathway for young players from grassroots to national and international football,” JFSPL said.
The statement makes clear that while the senior team will leave the ISL, work with young players and community football will continue. With this exit, the Tata Group’s direct presence in the professional league is limited to the Tata Football Academy in Jamshedpur.
Why the decision came now
Notably, Jamshedpur FC had not met the original July 20 deadline for confirmation and fee payment. The delay was linked to the need for shareholder approval. Under the revised ISL model, clubs take a bigger role in running the league through a new operating body, and that change required formal sign-off from the parent company.
An extended deadline also passed without the fee being paid, leading to Friday’s official confirmation that the club will not take part from next season.
Looking back at nine seasons
Jamshedpur FC entered the Indian Super League ahead of the 2017-18 season alongside Bengaluru FC. Over nine campaigns, the Red Miners achieved solid results. Their strongest season came in 2021-22 when they won the League Shield under coach Owen Coyle.
They reached the playoffs again in 2024-25 under Khalid Jamil and finished fifth last season. Those highlights stand as the main markers of the club’s time in the competition.
Durand Cup campaign continues for now
Even as the ISL exit was announced, Jamshedpur FC remains active in the Durand Cup. The team opened its group stage with a clear 5-0 win over Defenders FC, a side from the Sri Lankan Armed Forces.
Their next match is scheduled against SC Delhi on August 2. It is still unclear whether the club will complete the rest of its Durand Cup fixtures after the ISL decision.
Jamshedpur FC’s departure marks the end of one chapter and the start of another for the club and for Indian football as a whole. Fans and players will watch closely to see how the remaining Durand Cup games unfold and how the academy continues its work.
About the Author
Aachal Maniyar is a Senior Content Producer at LiveMint, where she covers US sports with a focus on major leagues, marquee events, and athlete-driven stories, while also reporting extensively on cricket and global sports. With over five years of first-hand journalism experience, she combines sharp editorial judgment with real-time sports storytelling across platforms. <br><br> Her reporting journey spans leading newsrooms including Thomson Reuters, India TV, BTVI, ET NOW, and CNBC TV18, where she has worked across breaking news, live match coverage, feature writing, interviews, video scripting, and anchoring. This multi-platform exposure has shaped her ability to deliver context-rich sports and business journalism tailored for both television and digital audiences. <br><br> Aachal has conducted and produced exclusive interviews with athletes and public figures such as India cricketer Dhruv Jurel, Indian women’s hockey captain Savita Punia, and industrialist Ratan Tata, along with several emerging and established sports personalities. Her body of work includes in-depth explainers, athlete profiles, emotionally resonant fan narratives, and data-backed match analysis across cricket, Olympic sports, and international competitions. <br><br> She holds a Master’s degree in Journalism from Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune, and believes in reporting that is grounded in accuracy, clarity, and credibility. Her philosophy is simple: sports journalism should go beyond scores and statistics, capturing the human stories, pressure moments, and decisions that shape the game and the people who play it.
Stay updated with all the latest news and insights on Cricket, Football, and Tennis at Livemint Sports.
Wait for it…
Oops! Looks like you have exceeded the limit to bookmark the image. Remove some to bookmark this image.