Mohun Bagan super giants have headlined the worrying list of seven clubs whose applications for AIFF Premier 1 licenses for the 2026-27 season have been rejected, casting fresh uncertainty over the future of several Indian Super League sides. The decision, taken by the AIFF’s Club Licensing Committee – First Instance Body (CLC-FIB), will now temporarily make several top-flight clubs ineligible to participate in national and AFC competitions until the situation is quickly resolved.

While some clubs managed to secure licenses with restrictions, many major ISL names failed to get approval from the AIFF.

The clubs that were granted licenses with approval were:

• Northeast United FC
• East Bengal FC
• Jamshedpur FC
• Mumbai City FC
• bengaluru fc
• FC Goa
• punjab fc

Meanwhile, the clubs whose licenses were rejected are:

• Mohun Bagan Super Giant
• Kerala Blasters FC
• Odisha FC
• Chennaiyin FC
• Mohammedan Sporting Club
• Antar Kashi
• Sporting Club Delhi

Many ISL clubs are already grappling with widespread uncertainty over the league’s commercial future, ownership concerns, sponsorship pressures and operational plans for next season. Now the licensing setback adds another administrative headache right in the middle of that chaos.

But unless those issues are resolved quickly, Indian football may soon face another off-field mess just months before the new season begins.

What does AIFF club license rejection mean?

AIFF’s Indian club licensing system is not just paperwork.

It is essentially the league’s quality-control system designed to ensure that clubs meet mandatory standards involving finance, infrastructure, youth development, administration and sporting operations before they can participate in professional competitions.

Every season, clubs must secure licenses to participate in the ISL, I-League and AFC tournaments.

So when a license is rejected, it effectively means that the club has failed to meet one or several mandatory criteria set out by AIFF and AFC rules.

Technically, this currently makes these clubs ineligible to participate in ISL and continental competitions for the 2026–27 season.

But the important thing is that it is not an immediate removal.

Clubs still have ways to avoid complete disaster.

What’s next for Mohun Bagan and other clubs?

Despite the rejection, it is still not the end of the road for the seven clubs. The AIFF rules still leave some loopholes open before the 2026-27 season officially begins.

What can rejected clubs do now:

• File an appeal against the decision of the Club Licensing Committee
• Submit additional documentation or clarification to address compliance deficiencies
• Request special discounts to participate in national competitions
• Try to resolve infrastructure, financial or administrative issues within the permitted timeframe
• Will be temporarily ineligible for ISL and AFC competitions until approval is received

For Mohun Bagan in particular, the rejection has even greater significance given the club’s recent AFC troubles after refusing to travel to Iran for an ACL 2 match last year, which had already resulted in a heavy fine and a two-season continental ban.

And for clubs like Kerala Blasters, Odisha FC and Chennaiyin FC, this announcement will further heighten supporters’ concerns about where Indian club football is currently headed.

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