AIFF’s Big Move: Who Will Take Over ISL Commercial Rights After FSDL Exit?

AIFF Holds Pre-Bid Conference for ISL Commercial Rights: A Defining Moment for Indian Football

In an important development for Indian football, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) hosted its online pre-bid meeting today for the commercial rights of the Indian Super League (ISL). This meeting represents a significant step toward finding a new commercial partner for the long term to take Indian football’s premier league forward.

This meeting came after the Request for Proposal (RFP) was issued on October 16, 2023, and overseen by Justice L. Nageswara Rao, who was solicited by the Supreme Court of India to supervise the tender process.

The new contract, likely to be a 15-years agreement, will replace the Master Rights Agreement (MRA) between AIFF and Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) which was the foundation of Indian football’s ecosystem since 2010 but was mutually terminated last month.

A New Era for Indian Football’s and ISL Commercial Rights

The bidding will include all the main business parts of the Indian Super League. This includes things like deals, TV, online rights, ads, merchandise, and how data is used.

The official papers say that the winner will pay AIFF at least ₹37.5 crore each year. They can also pay 5% of what they make, and pay whichever amount is higher.

This shows that AIFF wants to make sure there’s a long-term and open business plan. They used to rely a lot on money coming in from FSDL.

Low​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ Turnout Raises Questions at Pre-Bid Conference

As per the sources, only four entities participated in the online pre-bid conference, which is quite surprising and has been talked about a lot in the Indian football community.

Those present were:

• Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL)
• FanCode (Owned by Dream Sports)
• Conscient Heritage Group (real estate company, owners of Conscient Football Academy)
• Foreign consortium (details not disclosed)

Still, a report suggested that one party was not allowed to attend due to a conflict of interest in Indian football, which is a development that shows the AIFF’s commitment to transparency.

KPMG, the global consulting firm in charge of the process, is still positive about the situation despite the low turnout.

“Four bidders took part, and a few may still submit bids directly. Two represented consortiums, while two were known entities,” a senior AIFF official told the media.

It is quite intriguing that FSDL, the current rights holder, through more than 100 queries to AIFF and KPMG, evidently, sought clarifications regarding the new tender’s structure which indicates that they might be interested in the continuation of their tenure.

AIFF will answer all the questions of the bidders by October 27, 2025. The final date for the submission of bids is November 5, 2025, at 5:00 PM, and the technical bids will be opened on the same ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌day.

Indian Football at a Crossroads

The timing of this proposal could not be better. Indian football is in one of its most uncertain periods in recent history.

The senior men’s national team exited early from the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers and has no international matches scheduled until the end of 2027, which is an extremely long time for players, fans, sponsors, and everyone else involved in the game.

The 2025-26 season has kicked off with the Super Cup but the domestic football landscape lacks any soundness. The I-League, Indian Women’s League, and various youth competitions are still pending coherent plans and consistent financial assistance.

For AIFF, this is about much more than business, it’s about survival. If the previous deal finishes, the ₹50 crore that FSDL contributed every year would have sustained much of India’s football operations. No new strong partnership could mean serious financial hardship for the federation and sport in India, which would impact all levels of the game including grassroots and national team camps.

Why This Deal Is Super Important Right Now

The next few weeks are key for Indian football’s future. This upcoming deal will shape how the ISL is promoted and run. More than that, it’ll decide how the sport grows, from kids just starting out to the pros.

The right business partner could mean new money, better TV broadcasts, and cooler ways for fans to get involved online. But a bad deal? That could set Indian football back for years.

So, this bidding process isn’t just a formality. It’s like a lifeline for the whole sport.

What Happens Next?

• AIFF responses to bidder queries: October 27, 2025
• Bid submission deadline: November 5, 2025 (5:00 PM IST)
• Technical bid opening: November 5, 2025
• New commercial partner announcement: Expected by late November 2025