Jamshedpur FC Withdraws from 2026-27 ISL Season Over Unpaid Fees

New Delhi: Jamshedpur FC, the 2022 Indian Super League Shield winners, have decided not to play the 2026-27 season of India's top-tier football competition. The club, owned and managed by Tata Steel, had not paid its Rs 55 lakh participation fees towards the upcoming club-led model. With an extension granted until July 31, the 2025 Super Cup runners-up decided to cease operations rather than pay the fees. “Jamshedpur Football Club would like to confirm that it will not be participating in ISL from the 2026-27 season onwards,” the club said in an official statement. “JFSPL (Jamshedpur Football and Sporting Private Limited) remains committed, in other capacities, to the continued growth and development of football in India. We will continue in our endeavour to promote and develop the game of football, including at the grassroots level.” TimesofIndia.com has learnt that the decision not to participate in the 2026-27 ISL season is not a snap judgement. The club had been mulling its options even before a deal was reached between the AIFF and the clubs earlier in the month over the league's roadmap. Additionally, the parent group and the club will honour their commitments towards players, coaches and support staff who have long-running contracts. Jamshedpur FC, founded in 2017 and playing their first ISL season in 2017-18, will continue to work in grassroots development, with the Tata Football Academy based in Jamshedpur central to those plans. “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,” the club continued in their statement. In their brief stay in Indian men's club football, Jamshedpur FC clinched the League Winners’ Shield under Owen Coyle in 2021-22. They then reached the last-four of the ISL Cup and the AIFF Super Cup final in the 2024-25 season under Khalid Jamil.

Inter Kashi pay participation fee

Besides Jamshedpur FC, Inter Kashi was the other ISL club that had not paid its Rs 55 lakh participation fees by July 20 and was given an extension until July 31. On Friday, the club paid a substantial chunk of that amount despite the challenging financial position they find themselves in. The club was also hit with a transfer ban until the end of 2027 after failing to pay outstanding wages to players and coaching staff. While paying a big portion of their participation fees towards the 2026-27 ISL season, Inter Kashi have also asked the AIFF to waive the Rs 1 lakh per day fine. They and Jamshedpur FC were both handed punishments for not paying the participation fees by the July 20 deadline.