Football lovers, let’s open the door to the world of Indian football and prepare for some great emotions! Today, we are going to discover more about the Indian Super League (ISL) which is the highest football tournament in India. Let’s discover all the things about ISL Games.
So where are you in your passion for football? Are you a fanatic or are you getting into the adrenaline activity this powerful league has in store for you?
What are the ISL Games ?
The Indian Super League or abbreviated as ISL is the Premier men’s professional football league in the country of India. It’s somewhat like the English Premier League or Spanish La Liga but with the Indian taste.
The league was form in the year 2014 and the main objective of commencing the event was to enhance the awareness of football in India and at the same time enhancing the quality of football in the country.
Key Facts about the ISL Games
1. Season Structure: The ISL season is conduct through a 2015 format which occurs from September to March. And it’s not just a short, let’s say, a tournament for three or four days – it becomes a full-blown league that can last for several months.
2. Number of Teams: The ISL comprises 13 teams with the establishing of the new teams for the 2024-25 season. These teams are based in different cities in India and people have pride and in most cases rivalry in their respective cities.
3. Format: The league uses a two round – robin system of play. This means that in each fixture each team is expect to play with every other team, both in their home and away fixtures. Following such confrontations, the better teams advance to the playoffs that takes a decisive team to the final stage.
4. Playoffs: A bit of disclaimer here, playoffs are the most interesting part of basketball!! There are pre-determine places for ‘knockout’ matches between the top six teams which determine the championship of the ISL Cup champions.
5. League Winners Shield: This accolade has however only been in use since season 2019-20 where the team that registers the most points in the regular season receives the League Winners Shield. This awards the team that has been more dominant all through the season.
6. International Recognition: The ISL is affiliate to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC there by Football clubs from the ISL can qualify to the association club competitions such as the AFC champions league two.
A Brief History of the ISL Games
The formation of ISL Games started in the year 2014 with the affiliation of eight teams only. However, it was aim at increasing the popularity of football in a nation, in which cricket always reigned supreme.
Over the years, the league has grown in size and stature:
2014: The first season of the tournament gets off with the participation of 8 teams.
2017: There is an addition of more teams in the league which now has ten teams in total as well as the season length is also change.
2019: The introduction of the League Winners Shield In this year the league came up with what is known as the league winners shield.
2020: Two giants Mohun Bagan now ATK Mohun Bagan join the league along with another historical club East Bengal join the league.
2023: For the first time ever a team from I-League, Punjab FC gets promote to the Indian Super League.
2024: The team that joined the league is Mohammedan SC which makes the league even more competitive with 13 teams.
Teams in the ISL Games 2024-2025
The 13 teams competing in the 2024-25 ISL season are:
| No. | Team | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ATK Mohun Bagan | Kolkata |
| 2 | Bengaluru FC | Bengaluru |
| 3 | Chennaiyin FC | Chennai |
| 4 | East Bengal FC | Kolkata |
| 5 | FC Goa | Goa |
| 6 | Hyderabad FC | Hyderabad |
| 7 | Jamshedpur FC | Jamshedpur |
| 8 | Kerala Blasters FC | Kochi |
| 9 | Mohammedan SC | Kolkata |
| 10 | Mumbai City FC | Mumbai |
| 11 | NorthEast United FC | Guwahati |
| 12 | Odisha FC | Bhubaneswar |
| 13 | Punjab FC | Ludhiana |
The game’s teams have different characteristics of the team culture, its fans, and the local context, which means that every game is different.
How the Season Works?
1. Regular Season: A round-robin tournament format is use whereby each of the thirteen teams competes, on a home and away basis, with all the other teams; and hence each team is involve in 24 matches in total.
2. Points System: In soccer, fouls are award as follows: 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and no point for a loss.
3. League Winners Shield: The Register season champions clinch the Shield and there and there they get the qualification for the AFC Champions League Two.
4. Playoffs: Having three points for a win and one for a draw the six best placed teams and proceed to play the playoffs.
– The two highest-ranking teams go straight to the finals and are known as the semifinals.
– Teams ranked for three to six play in qualification matches advancing to the semi final level.
– The two winners of the two semifinals face each other in the ISL Final to decide the Cup winner.
ISL Games Winners List Of Each Season
| Season | Winner | Final Match | Score | Opponent | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Atletico de Kolkata | Atletico de Kolkata vs Kerala Blasters | 1-0 | Kerala Blasters | DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai |
| 2015 | Chennaiyin FC | Chennaiyin FC vs FC Goa | 3-2 | FC Goa | Fatorda Stadium, Goa |
| 2016 | Atletico de Kolkata | Atletico de Kolkata vs Kerala Blasters | 1-1 (4-3 Penalties) | Kerala Blasters | Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi |
| 2017-18 | Chennaiyin FC | Chennaiyin FC vs Bengaluru FC | 3-2 | Bengaluru FC | Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru |
| 2018-19 | Bengaluru FC | Bengaluru FC vs FC Goa | 1-0 | FC Goa | Mumbai Football Arena, Mumbai |
| 2019-20 | Atletico de Kolkata | Atletico de Kolkata vs Chennaiyin FC | 3-1 | Chennaiyin FC | Fatorda Stadium, Goa |
| 2020-21 | Mumbai City FC | Mumbai City FC vs ATK Mohun Bagan | 2-1 | ATK Mohun Bagan | Fatorda Stadium, Goa |
| 2021-22 | Hyderabad FC | Hyderabad FC vs Kerala Blasters | 1-1 (3-1 Penalties) | Kerala Blasters | Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Goa |
| 2022-23 | ATK Mohun Bagan | ATK Mohun Bagan vs Bengaluru FC | 2-2 (4-3 Penalties) | Bengaluru FC | Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Goa |
| 2023-24 | Mumbai City FC | Mumbai City FC vs Mohun Bagan Super Giant | 3-1 | Mohun Bagan Super Giant | Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata |
Star Players and Coaches In ISL Games
The ISL has been able to attract young talents from Indian and other big names from across the globe.
While specific players change each season, the league has seen famous names like:
- Indian stars: Sesugaforward Sunil Chhetri,Midfielder Sandesh Jhingan Goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu
- International players: Tim Cahill, Alessandro del Piero, Roberto Carlos (which were feature in previous seasons as marquee players).
Several other famous coaches have also taken part in the ISL and introduced the Indian players of football by providing international football experience.
ISL- Media Coverage and Viewership
The ISL has seen impressive growth in terms of media coverage and viewership:
1. TV Broadcast: Star Sports has been the channel producing this event, and they have broadcasted the matches In multiple Indian languages.
2. Streaming: Matches are also accessible from streaming form services such as Disney+ Hotstar.
3. Viewership Growth: It has recorded an increase in the viewership with millions of television viewership during the entire seasons in the league.
4. International Coverage: ISL is also telecast in many countries other than India making people of the world to get more familiar with Indian football.
Notable Achievements and Records Of ISL Games
As the league has grown, it has produced some impressive achievements:
1. Attendance Records: It has been note that some of these matches have attracted more than sixty thousand spectators.
2. Goals: Many matches in the league have been open affairs with teams registering good results and individuals achieving the target of scoring goals.
3. Asian Success: FC Goa became the first club of the country to qualify for the AFC Champions League group stage in 2021.
4. Stadium Developments: In fact, many state-of-art World football stadiums have already been constructed/ reconstruct for various ISL teams.
Conclusion
The Indian Super League has been nothing less than a revolution which has brought new energy and professional touch to football in India. The Indian Super League is not only entertaining the country with thrilling matches, committed fan following, skill development of talent, infrastructure advancement of football clubs but also has a prominent role in the development of football in India.
As the league’s progress and the number of leagues increase, fans of football in India as well as across the world can look forward to even more enthralling leagues.
Whether or not you are a football fan that has been following the sport for many years or new to this genre of games, it’s obvious that the ISL provides a striking football experience that fans should follow.
FAQ’s
Ans. The ISL season runs from September to March, making it a full-fledged league that spans several months. The league follows a round-robin format with playoffs, culminating in a final to determine the champion.
Ans. As of the 2024-25 season, the ISL comprises 13 teams from various cities across India. The latest additions to the league include Mohammedan SC, making the competition even more thrilling.
Ans. The ISL uses a two-round-robin system, where each team plays every other team twice, both home and away. The top six teams advance to the playoffs, leading to the semi-finals and the grand finale.
Ans. Introduced in the 2019-20 season, the League Winners Shield is awarded to the team that finishes with the most points during the regular season. The winner also secures a spot in the AFC Champions League Two.
Ans. Over the years, several teams have claimed the ISL title, including Atletico de Kolkata (now ATK Mohun Bagan), Chennaiyin FC, Bengaluru FC, and Mumbai City FC. The most recent winner, in the 2023-24 season, was Mumbai City FC.
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